BELEAGUERED Bulawayo giants Highlanders are frustrated that they missed out on a Dynamos draw for the Chibuku Super Cup quarter-finals after they were paired against Caps United instead.
Bosso were still smarting from two consecutive losses before their Sunday match against Dynamos was abandoned due to crowd trouble in the first half when they were trailing 2-0.
Having lost their grip on the league title race after slipping into second place behind Ngezi Platinum Stars, Highlanders will be looking to also do well in the Chibuku Cup competition and push for silverware on two fronts.
They suffered their first defeat of the season to FC Platinum and want revenge against the platinum miners.
“We would have preferred to be drawn against Dynamos or FC Platinum for the reasons that you all know. They recently beat us, so we feel that we need to hit back at them and this time around we were going to hit them for five or six, nothing less than that,” Highlanders representative Nkosi Dube told reporters at the draw.
“The draw was fair and it’s very unfortunate that our friends from Caps United, who just like us have been going through a bad spell, that their woes are going to mount since they have been drawn against us.
“I want to promise our fans that we are definitely going to lift the (Chibuku) trophy. We are going to cruise past the quarter-finals, cruise past the semis, despite what has been happening of late. All teams go through a bad spell, but we are going to come back strong,” he added.
Caps United have struggled in the Chibuku Super Cup since its return a decade ago and have made the last eight for the first time ever since they reached the semi-finals in 2018.
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Their league form this season has also been poor as they sit in 10th place, having failed to register a win in their last seven encounters.
“I know we haven’t been playing well in the league, but I know we are Cup Kings and playing Highlanders, it’s going to be a very good game and exciting game.
“We have been playing well but unfortunately results have not been coming our way. We are expecting to do very well because Caps United have one of the best coaches in the country and it’s unfortunate that results have not been coming our way,” said Onesimus Chaoma, who represented Makepekepe at the draw.
In-form Dynamos were drawn to play FC Platinum, who dumped them out the country’s premier knockout competition in the last two editions.
FC Platinum won the competition in 2021 and while they have struggled in their league title defence, they will be looking to do well in this competition.
In other matches, high-flying Ngezi Platinum Stars face their bogey side Herentals FC who reached the final last year before they lost to eventual champions Bulawayo Chiefs.
Castle Lager Premier Soccer League bottom side Black Rhinos entertain Chicken Inn.
The quarter-final matches will be played on the weekend of September 30, with Highlanders, FC Platinum, Chicken Inn and Herentals enjoying home advantage.
Chibuku Super Cup Quarter-final Draw
Herentals v Ngezi Platinum Stars, FC Platinum v Dynamos, Highanders v Caps United, Chicken Inn v Black Rhinos
