The ManicaPost
Ray Bande : Senior Sports Reporter
FOR once, Mutare City Rovers will put behind sorrows of a forgettable season which might come to an end with the municipality-owned side going back to Eastern Region Division One.
For once, Mutare City Rovers will have the luxury of setting aside their amateurish approach to football administration whose epitome was that unfortunate incident that saw the team fielding a suspended player.
Indeed, for once, Mutare City Rovers will be concentrating purely on their match and will not be worried about how fellow relegation candidates, Tsholotsho FC or Border Strikers will be playing.
The Chibuku Super Cup is upon us!
Mutare City Rovers will travel to Bulawayo to face giants, Highlanders in one of the Chibuku Super Cup first round matches set for Sunday at Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayo.
Interestingly, Mutare City Rovers beat Highlanders in their recent Premiership league encounter at the same venue in one of the season’s biggest surprise results this season.
The Mutare outfit pulled a shocker, dismantling the feared opponents in their own backyard against all odds.
But Taku Sharuiwa, the Mutare City coach, fully understands that this is going to be a different ball game altogether.
Shariwa said the Chibuku Super Cup is, however, not his priority.
“We are obviously going to take this match seriously. No-one can ever get into a cup tournament without the zeal to win. We really want to go as far as we can in this tournament even if it means winning the tournament, we will.
“However, I have put it on record before and I will reiterate it here that this tournament is not our priority at the moment. We are concentrating on surviving relegation.
“Our mission is to survive relegation. We will make sure that this team plays Premiership football again next season. But like I said, that does not mean we are taking the Chibuku Cup for granted. Highlanders can underestimate us at their own peril,” he said.
While Highlanders will come into this cup match with their tails high after dismissing old foes Dynamos in a league match at Barbourfields last weekend, Mutare City Rovers also heaved a huge sigh of relief after leaving veteran gaffer, David ‘Yogi’ Mandigora, living on borrowed time at Triangle when the former Dynamos mentor agonisingly watched his team suffer the fourth defeat in a row at the hands of Mutare City Rovers at Sakubva Stadium.
Last Sunday’s victory for City Rovers could not have come at a better time as the vastly improved outfit got back to third from bottom position on the log table after fellow relegation candidates, Tsholotsho, had assumed that position a day before, thanks to their slender 1-0 triumph over Border Strikers last Saturday.
Mutare City Rovers could have surged ahead 13 minutes into the match when Chasten Ngondonga pounced on a loose ball following a goalmouth melee, but the former Triangle player failed to punish his former paymasters as he put his effort wide off target.
However, the hosts got it right in the 27th minute after Russell Madamombe was fouled in the box by Triangle’s Ronald Dzvanyai and Harare-based referee, Josiah Masimira, made no mistake as he pointed to the spot.
Up-stepped former Harare City striker, Agrippa Murimba, who hit the roof of the net, much to the ululation of the paltry crowd of home team fans.
Gusha Bhora, as City Rovers are fondly referred to by their fans in Mutare, extended their lead in the 63rd minute when ageless second half substitute, Wonder Sithole’s volley a few yard outside the box left Triangle shot-stopper, Ronald Mudimu a well beaten man.
Meanwhile, in other matches lined up for the Chibuku Cup first round this weekend, Dynamos face How Mine, while CAPS United engage Tsholotsho.
PSL log leaders, FC Platinum, who are firm candidates for the league title this season entertain Chapungu, while ZPC Kariba play against Bulawayo City.
A battle of veteran coaches will see under fire David ‘Yogi’ Mandigora playing against Chicken Inn under the tutelage of Rahman Gumbo, while a battle of miners will see Ngezi Platinum play against Hwange.
The Chibuku Super Cup round of 16 matches will take place from this weekend, while the quarter finals are set for September 30 to October 2.
The last four is scheduled for October 21 to 23 with the finals scheduled for November 5.
