By Simba Jemwa
Ah, the magic of the Chibuku Super Cup.
The quarter-finals are nigh, where winning teams guarantee to be just one step from the final and possible glory!
It’s the kind of game that can give a confidence boost when you are absolutely rubbish in the league and may have much to hold to come the end of the season, be a way to actually win a trophy or keep the unspoken dream of a double alive.
Mixed in with a bit of English Premier League action, there has been enough variety in the weekend football to help us all forget Zimbabwe’s utterly useless national team.
Before we dive into it all feet first, let’s quickly come together to reflect on the week before the weekend.
Norman Mapeza picked his Zimbabwe squad, played and lost to Ghana! Again! Admittedly, Zimbabwe are over-rated and have forgotten what it means to play a football match and win, but still. And if ‘form’ is the reason, how on Earth has Rahman Kutsanzira slipped in ahead of the likes of Knox Mutizwa?
And, to the actual action…
Mandla Mpofu has done very well at Highlanders who despite drawing nil-all against Bulawayo City on Sunday still made it to the next round. But it was little surprise that Bulawayo Chiefs were able to remember they have been a very good side at some point long enough to force a draw with Chicken Inn.
Chiefs gave the classic ‘too good for the Division One but probably not good enough for the Premier League’ performance as Joey Antipas’ side barely held on to finish top of Group Two when the two sides drew 1-1 at Barbourfields Stadium last Saturday.
Caps United’s clash with Dynamos was a test of patience – not just for the viewer who had to watch the game but for United who were trying to break Tonderai Ndiraya’s side down and pick up three points and a place in the quarter finals ahead of Harare City who had lost to Herenthals 3-0 meaning a Caps United victory would have seen the Green Machine through.
Whilst knocking the ‘Cup Kings’ out of the cup, Dembare are now among the favourites to win the damn thing – and as we all know, that will work out really well for the Glamour Boys. When you are as absolutely garbage as United this season, it’s not going to help even if your opponents score an own goal to give you an equaliser.
Saturday 16 October 2021
ZPC Kariba 1-0 Yadah
Black Rhinos 1-1 Manica Diamonds
Tenax 0-1 Cranborne Bullets
Ngezi Platinum 1-2 FC Platinum
Chicken Inn 1-1 Bulawayo Chiefs
Sunday 17 October 2021
Herentals 3-0 Harare City
Triangle United 3-1 Whawha
Dynamos 1-1 Caps United
Bulawayo City 0-0 Highlanders
