ZVISHAVANE is set to explode today as Harare football giants Dynamos, Triangle, How Mine and Chicken Inn all invade the mining town for the right to play in the final of the $500 000 NetOne Wallet Cup.
Sports Correspondent Biggie Zuze’s Triangle, paired against Chicken Inn who are under the guidance of former Motor Action coach Joey Antipas during the draw conducted on Monday, take to the field first at Mandava Stadium today in the first semi-final of the tournament hoping to advance to the final of one of the richest knockout tournaments in the country.
Then there is the clash between giant killers How Mine and Dynamos at the same venue tomorrow.
These are fixtures which will whet the appetite of soccer fans.
But it is the encounter between defending league champions Dynamos and How Mine that will be in the spotlight.
Dynamos still licking their wounds following their shock elimination from the Chibuku Super Cup by lowly Black Rhinos, will be looking to show that they have put behind them the problems which have rocked them the last two weeks in which players were boycotting training over unpaid allowances and bonuses.
The Harare giants paid dearly for that industrial action as they were booted out by Black Rhinos from the Chibuku Super Cup — one of the richest knockout tournaments on the Zimbabwean soccer calendar.
Substitute Nesbert Padzarondora’s deflected shot with just eight minutes remaining in the match helped the army side advance at the expense of Dynamos. To compound their woes, striker Rodreck Mutuma was sent off after he exchanged blows with Black Rhinos’ Abel Gada, who also saw red.
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But this is a different cup competition and Mutuma, who had also been suspended by his club after he was also involved in a training ground bust-up with captain Murape Murape, will be available for selection after the club management decided to lift their suspensions.
However, while Mutuma has been in top form since returning from Bloemfontein Celtic in South Africa scoring four goals in all competitions including the one that knocked out bitter rivals Caps United from the NetOne Wallet Cup, it will count for little given that How Mine have proved they are not easy to break down as they have defeated most of the so-called big teams including Dynamos.
The Harare giants still have sad memories of their meeting with How Mine in a cup competition after they were sent reeling out of the Mbada Diamonds Cup last season with Thembani Masuku scoring the priceless goal from inside the box to deflate their hopes.
Dynamos team manager Richard said they still feel the pain of that defeat soon after the draw of the NetOne Wallet Cup was conducted at Harare Showgrounds. “I knew we would be drawn against How Mine,” Chihoro said.
“How Mine are a very good side and I remember they booted us out in the Mbada Diamonds Cup last year.
“They are not an easy team.
“But this time we are hungrier to win this cup especially if you consider that we are out of the Chibuku Super Cup.
“We were very disappointed to be sent out of the Chibuku Cup by Black Rhinos.”
Dynamos, however, will feel motivated after they defeated their opponents 1-0 in their league encounter this term and after a 2-1 victory over Triangle last week which helped them to cement their place at the top of the league table, and will be looking to maintain their form.
