Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
THE zeal to clinch an eighth Independence Cup title will spur the country’s two biggest sides Highlanders and Dynamos when they clash against FC Platinum and Chicken Inn respectively in the semi-finals this afternoon. Highlanders, whose coach has declared that they want to win their match in regulation time, welcome FC Platinum to Barbourfields Stadium, while Dynamos will entertain league champions Chicken Inn at Rufaro Stadium.
The two rivals have won the Independence Cup seven times each, with Dynamos winning the inaugural trophy in 1983 and retaining it the following year. It was theirs again in 1990, 1995, 2004, 2010 and 2013.
Highlanders tasted victory for the first time in 1986 before winning it again two years later and then in 1991, 1998, 2001, 2002 and 2011.
Bosso’s last triumph was at the expense of Dynamos. However, the two giants face mammoth tasks in their quest to reach the finals as their opponents have already had the better of them in league matches earlier this month.
FC Platinum beat Highlanders 2-1 at Barbourfields Stadium last Sunday, while Chicken Inn hammered Dynamos 3-0 in their season opener at the same venue.
Today’s semi-finals will go straight into the dreaded penalty shootout if there is no winner in regulation time, according to the rules of the tournament released by Zifa yesterday.
“The competition shall be played on a knock-out basis. The team that scores more goals at the end of 90 minutes shall be the winner and shall proceed to the finals, which shall be played on the 18th of April 2016 in Harare. In the event of a draw after 90 minutes, the winner shall be decided by the taking of penalty kicks in accordance with the laws of the game. Any dispute arising out of the competition shall be settled within football structures,” reads the Independence Cup rules and regulations booklet.