Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
MANDAVA Stadium in Zvishavane has been chosen to host the Chibuku Super Cup semi-finals set for Saturday and Sunday. ZPC Kariba and Harare City face off in the first semi-final on Saturday with Dynamos and Chapungu clashing at the same venue the next day.
The other 12 Premier Soccer League clubs will welcome the break as it will allow players with knocks to recover for the remaining league games.
PSL chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele defended the decision to take the semi-finals to Mandava.
“There are a number of issues that we consider when coming up with venues and in this case Mandava Stadium was seen as broadcasting friendly,” said Ndebele.
“There is no need to hire scaffolds to be used by camerapersons since the facility has its already existing stands for TV people. People mustn’t worry about trivial matters like fewer people coming into the stadium, but the key issue here is the number of people who will watch the games live on TV. We’re looking forward to a fun-filled weekend,” said Ndebele.
The Chibuku Super Cup final is set for October 31 at a venue yet to be confirmed.
It is highly likely that the final will be played in Harare in the event that Dynamos and Harare City make it through.
City were in last year’s final which they lost to FC Platinum at Mandava and will be hoping to get the better of the electricity generators on Saturday.
City were ruthless on their way to the semi-finals, thumping Buffaloes 4-1 in the first round before totally crushing Triangle United 5-0 in the quarter-finals.
They face a ZPC Kariba which is fighting relegation and will want to win their first silverware since coming into the topflight last season.
ZPC Kariba knocked out Caps United via penalties and brushed aside How Mine 3-0.
Dynamos should be wary of giant killers Chapungu, who sprung a quarter-final shocker by knocking out favourites Chicken Inn 5-3 after penalty shootouts following a 1-1 stalemate.
The airmen are content with the underdogs’ tag and are capable of upsetting DeMbare, who have a strong support base in Zvishavane.
Just like Chapungu, Dynamos needed a penalty shootout to dump defending champions FC Platinum in the quarter-finals.
In the first round DeMbare scrapped through courtesy of a 1-0 win against Whawha while Chapungu beat Flame Lily 2-1.
Chibuku Super Cup semi-finals fixtures
Saturday: ZPC Kariba v Harare City (Mandava, 3PM SuperSport)
Sunday: Chapungu v Dynamos (Mandava, 3PM SuperSport)