Ngezi takes on Rhinos

Fungai Muderere

THE Castle Lager Premier Soccer League log leaders Ngezi Platinum Stars are confident that they will get it right when they meet Black Rhinos in a potentially exciting Chibuku Super Cup semi-final match at Gweru’s Bata Stadium on Saturday.

The other semi-final match will see Harare giants CAPS United and Dynamos do battle at the giant National Sports Stadium on Sunday. 

ZTN Prime (DStv Channel 294) will broadcast the matches live amid revelations that the stream feed will be available via the DStv app.

Ngezi Platinum Stars head coach Takesure Chiragwi said he was confident that his charges were going to floor the army side. 

“Cup games are always tricky but we are very much confident that we will get it right against Rhinos. It’s going to be a big fight and we are not under-estimating our opponents,” said Chiragwi .

The competition reverted to the traditional knockout format from the preliminary round.

In the previous edition that acted as a warm-up tournament to the 2021 /22 season, the 18 top-flight teams were grouped into four groups, with the top two sides progressing to the quarter-finals.

Free-spending Ngezi Platinum won the Chibuku Super Cup in 2016 and came close to reclaiming it in 2019 and 2021 when they lost 5-3 on penalties to the league’s defending champions FC Platinum.

In first place in the league race, Ngezi Platinum are chasing a double and will be looking to get at least a cup in a season they have been on top of their game under the guidance of Chiragwi.

The competition, which is the country’s biggest knockout tournament, provides winners the sole ticket to represent the country in the Confederation of African Football (Caf) Confederations Cup rivalry.

The final of the cup contest will be played on November 25 at a venue yet to be announced.

Last year, Bulawayo Chiefs got the better of Herentals College to clinch the Chibuku Cup in a final match that was played at Barbourfields Stadium.

It was Chiefs’ first major trophy since their promotion into the Premier Soccer League in 2018.

Bulawayo Chiefs got their all-important goal through Arthur Musiyiwa’s long-range shot from outside the box

Musiyiwa is now with Dynamos.

Bulawayo Chiefs and Herentals were playing in the final for the first time since joining Zimbabwe’s topflight football a few seasons ago.

Chiefs pocketed US$75 000 for their achievement while the runners-up received US$50 000 for consolation.