ACTION resumes in the third edition of the Mbada Diamonds Cup this weekend with two semi final matches lined up.
Premier Soccer League title contenders, Harare City and Highlanders face-off in the first semi final match slated for Mandava Stadium in Zvishavane tomorrow.
CAPS United will lock horns with unpredictable How Mine on Sunday at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday.
The Harare City-Highlanders match promises to be a thriller as both teams are aiming for double glory, the Mbada Diamonds Cup and the Premier Soccer League (PSL) title.
After the Mbada Diamonds Cup, the two will meet in a league fixture that may decide the title race.
Meeting at a neutral venue in the mining town, stakes are high in the match that is pitting the title contenders.
Both teams are coming from draws in the last PSL matches they played and this time one team has to proceed to the final.
Harare City will need to polish their act in front of goal as their inaccuracy cost them two points at Rimuka Stadium last Sunday. Harare City coach, Bigboy Mawiwi admitted that their strikers were blunt in front of goal and could have buried the army side.
Osborne Mukuradare and Martin Vengesayi both failed to find the target on Sunday.
However, in a new game tomorrow, Mukuradare might be City’s gunslinger and is expected to bang goals for the Harare-based side.
Mukuradare is a thorn in the flesh for Highlanders who will remember the Kadoma-born footballer scoring a hat-trick last year when he was playing for Monomotapa.
This year he has scored more than 10 goals for City. Mawiwi is likely to entrust Maxwell Nyamupangedengu in between the posts while Witness Nyamutsaka and David Kutyauripo may partner in the central defence.
Kutyauripo, a former Dynamos right back is proving to be a utility player for City as he has not disappointed in central defence.
In the middle of the park, Silas Songani and Nathan Ziwini are expected to be the engine room for Harare City.
The speedy Songani might cause all sorts of problems together with young Talent Chawapihwa.
Songani, is also a dead ball specialist.
Highlanders gaffer Kelvin Kaindu will not experiment with his lads and is expected to field his best players.
After being held to a one-all draw by relegated Motor Action, Highlanders will be in all-attacking mode to make sure that they secure silverware this year.
Munyaradzi Diya might be entrusted between the sticks.
Diya has been useful for Bosso as he has been a regular this year.
Skipper Innocent Mapuranga and Dumisani Ndlovu may partner in the central defence while Bruce Kangwa will man the left flank.
In the middle of the park, Zimbabwe international Masimba Mambare, Peter ‘Rio’ Moyo and Bhekimpilo Ncube could be Kaindu’s trump card.
Upfront, Njabulo ‘Tshiki’ Ncube’s experience will be needed as the veteran has caused all sorts of problems for defenders.
Gabriel Nyoni is also another gem at Bosso’s disposal together with Ozias Zibande.
On Sunday, high-flying CAPS United entertain How Mine in a match that may go either way.
The Green Machine as Caps United are affectionately known will be playing their first Mbada Diamonds Cup match at home on Sunday.
CAPS United are coming from a 1-0 win against Buffaloes in Mutare and bubbling with confidence.
However, United have to hold their nerves as How Mine are giant killers this year.
In their debut season in the PSL, How Mine are the first league debutants to reach the semi-finals stage of the Diamonds Cup. Chikurupati (How Mine) have upset Dynamos in the league and Diamonds Cup and Highlanders in the league.
Chikurupati fancy a rock solid defence marshalled by Gilbert Banda, Herbert Dick and Kumbulani Banda.
The three veterans are key to How Mine’s road to success.
CAPS United will use home advantage to upset the miners once again.
They completed a double over the debutants with the last meeting being October 10 when CAPS won 1-0.
In the reverse fixture in Bulawayo, CAPS United won 2-1. If history is anything to go by, United have an advantage over the debutants.
With some of Zimbabwe’s best goalkeepers in the match, Ephraim Mazarura and Tafadzwa Dube in goals for How Mine and CAPS United respectively, the strikers are in for a hard time.
Tapiwa Kumbuyani, Tendai Samanja, Tawanda Nyamandwe, Rahman Kutsanzira and Dominic Chungwa are some of the players expected to lead the CAPS United onslaught.