By Sheldon Hakata
ALL roads lead to Emagumeni (Barbourfields Stadium), Bulawayo, this Saturday, for the Chibuku Super Cup final pitting Highlanders and Ngezi Platinum Stars.
The two top-flight league clubs tussle for the elusive silverware and right to play in the Africa safari, the CAF Confederation Cup.
Bulawayo host the Chibuku Super Cup final for the first time since its re-launch in 2014.
Harare City won the Cup twice since its reintroduction in 2014, while reaching the last four in every edition.
However, it has become a predictable trend in the history of the cup competition.
History, in this instance, favours Highlanders as all host teams end up victorious.
In 2014, FC Platinum beat Harare City 3-1 on penalties at Mandava Stadium in Zvishavane.
The following year, Harare City hosted Dynamos at the National Sports Stadium and won 2-1.
Hosts Ngezi Platinum Stars were crowned champions in 2016 after defeating FC Platinum 3-1 in the final at Baobab Stadium.
For the second time as hosts in 2017, the ‘Sunshine Boys’, as Harare City is affectionately known, beat How Mine 3-1 at Rufaro Stadium in Harare.
Lowveld side, Taurai Mangwiro-coached Triangle, were crowned 2018 Chibuku Super Cup champions in an explosive final at Gibbo Stadium.
They dismissed Harare City 2-0 to win the ticket to represent the country in the CAF Confederation Cup.
This year’s Chibuku Super Cup final is set to be an explosive encounter.
A mouth-watering Chibuku Super Cup final is at stake for the Bulawayo and surrounding areas football fans who were recently denied a chance to watch their beloved senior national soccer men’s football team play Botswana at the same venue.
It is the second time Ngezi Platinum Stars play in the final of the country’s richest competition, but the first time for coach Rodwell Dhlakama.
Dhlakama now only has the Chibuku Super Cup to redeem himself.
Highlanders and Ngezi Platinum Stars come into this 2019 Chibuku Super Cup final after some impressive wins
This blockbuster tie is the Highlanders’ first Cup game under Dutch coach Hendrik Pieter de Jongh and it’s being aided by home advantage.
Highlanders are favourates to scoop the Cup, judging from their recent performance in the PSL.
The deft touch of enterprising Prince Dube might make a difference.
Patriot Sport took to the streets to solicit fans’ sentiments on the upcoming game.
“Prince is playing the game of his life and he will be very influential,” said one Norman Katanda from Highfield, Harare.
“The boy is actually scoring for fun and no doubt he will score and deliver for Highlanders.”
One Ngezi Platinum Stars fan, only identified as Pinto, believes his team has a tough encounter ahead but is capable of upsetting the black and white army, Highlanders.
“Certainly we will give it our best against Highlanders in front of their die-hard fans,” he said.
“It will not be an easy game, but we are not called ‘Madamburo’ for nothing.
“We have won this Cup before and we can do it again.
“Yes, it’s always difficult to play Highlanders in front of their multitude of fans, but this is football and we can win the Cup as long as we believe and our boys work hard on the pitch.”
The winners of the Chibuku Super Cup will pocket ZWL$220 000, while runners-up will get
ZWL$150 000.
Apart from the prize money, prospects of playing in the CAF Confederation Cup should be enough motivation for every player, come Saturday.
While in other tournaments, matches are extended to extra time to decide the winner in the event of a draw, the Chibuku Super Cup tournament is different.
It’s straight to penalties if a match ends in a stalemate after regulation time.
May the best team win at Emagumeni!