For Premier League debutants Hunters, top-flight survival remains the absolute priority, casting a long shadow over any aspirations of cup glory. Yet, as the club navigates a tense relegation battle with nine games remaining, chief executive officer Terrence "Djemba-Djemba" Malunga insists the team still intends to compete hard in both the Chibuku Super Cup and the Zifa Munhumutapa Cup.
The club was drawn against bogey side Herentals in the Chibuku Super Cup first round on Tuesday, and they face amateur side Norton Big Boys on Sunday in the Zifa Munhumutapa Cup Round of 32 at Ngoni Stadium.
While Malunga concedes that a deep run into the later stages of these knockout tournaments would be welcome, the former Gunners player firmly refuses to let the side "overstretch themselves" while still finding their feet in the elite division.
Hunters currently sit 14th in the log standings with 27 points, five clear of the relegation zone. Survival remains firmly in their own hands, with the club requiring at least four more victories from their remaining fixtures to secure their status. Ironically, four wins is also the exact tally required to lift the Chibuku Super Cup, whereas navigating the Zifa Munhumutapa Cup demands five successful matches—a lucrative path boasting a $1 million winner’s prize and a coveted ticket to represent the country in next year’s CAF Confederations Cup.
Appetising as that may look, Malunga—a lawyer and a banker who consistently leans into logic—remains grounded.
"Well, to talk about winning some silverware at the moment, it's a bit over-reaching," Malunga said. "I know objectively I have to be smart. And one of the key smart things is stretching. And I don't think its good if we overstretch ourselves, tinodambuka... if we are going to talk about winning silverware. But I'm also thinking it's a good experience, a good platform for the youngsters that they get to compete in such big tournaments with the big boys and be able to stretch themselves. Individually stretch themselves to at least go to the next round."
Recent weeks have offered glimpses of encouragement.
Hunters have won two of their last three league matches to grant themselves vital breathing room in the survival scrap. Furthermore, the club was exceptionally active during the transfer window which closed last week, securing quality acquisitions—including Mafios Chihweta—to add much-needed bite upfront.
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"If you look at how we started... I always want to look at ourselves, to say are we doing the right things? Are we making the right strides? Are they positive? I think we have managed to do that week in, week out," Malunga reflected. "If you look at when we started off, we were not scoring as much. But now, if you go two, three, four games back, we are also finding the back of the net, which has been our huge Achilles when we started off. Now its getting there."
"And because it's getting there, with the new additions, we are hoping that they will come in and bolster the team. And that's all we can hope for. And in terms of relegation battle, we are still in the mix, but we are hopeful that we will find more points and achieve our objective at the end of the season."
Turning his attention to the impending Chibuku Super Cup showdown, Malunga anticipates a punishing encounter against a familiar foe. Herentals have proven to be a persistent thorn in Hunters' side this term, completing a league double over the newcomers after securing a 2-1 victory on April 18 before compounding it with a 1-0 win just a fortnight ago.
"As the new boys, it's going to be our first trip on the road in this competition," Malunga noted. "And we are playing Herentals who are a very experienced team in the league... and always doing pretty well. Always doing extremely, extremely above expectations in most cases. And if you look at how we have been playing from the start of the season up until now, we are a team that is getting to find its feet in the league. And obviously with a couple of youngsters that we have and added, I think we are getting into it. It will be a good experience for the boys. Obviously they'll go ahead and give it their all. And well, which team doesn't want to go to the next round? And we're hoping that at least we find our feet."
Chibuku Super Cup first round draw
Scottland v FC Platinum, Hardrock v Bulawayo Chiefs, Caps Utd v Simba Bhora, Dynamos v Triangle/TelOne, Herentals v FC Hunters, Ngezi Platinum Stars v ZPC Kariba, MWOS v Agama/Manica Diamonds, Highlanders v Chicken Inn.
