Cubanna is the place to be today and tomorrow
Ricky Zililo and Bongani Ndlovu, Sports Reporters
ZIMBABWE makes a third appearance at the 31st edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) which kicks off today in Gabon, with Bulawayo leisure centres hoping to cash-in on the continental football showpiece.
The Warriors, who are in Group B alongside continental heavyweights Algeria, Senegal and Tunisia, begin their campaign against Algeria at Franceville tomorrow.
Local sports bars and leisure centres are taking advantage of live broadcasts of Afcon games and have added some flair to Africa’s football jamboree by offering specials during the tournament which ends on February 5.
Below are some of the local leisure sports offerings during the Afcon.
Pub Lagondola
Running with the theme “The place to be”, Pub La Gondola will screen all the matches live. The club’s management said they are going to have “predict and win” games, with whiskeys and beers to be given to lucky patrons. They will also be serving free snacks on all match days.
Hartsfield Tshisa Nyama
The open air joint which opens three days a week, Friday, Saturday and Sunday has come up with an enticing concept which will see local beer brands being sold at pump prize when the Warriors take on Algeria tomorrow. Soccer fans who will be wearing Zimbabwe national team jerseys will be given a free-drink. The Zimbabwe-Algeria game will be screened on a big screen.
Highlanders Clubhouse
Its a place to be for avid soccer lovers with the club putting to use the projector donated towards establishment of a “Bosso Fan Park” in June by club benefactor Kenneth Mhlophe. For those who will not be interested in following action from the big screen, they can watch the games indoors. The club’s secretary-general Emmet Ndlovu said they will come up with exciting programmes aimed at increasing patronage during and after Afcon.
Mahweba Sports Bar (Cowdray Park Terminus)
All matches will be on a big screen, with lucky customers getting free drinks.
Afri-Sports Club (Entumbane Post Office)
The ekasi joint will have an Afcon quiz show with customers who get answers right getting their favourite drink for free during Zimbabwe’s group matches.
They’ve also come up with a “predict and win” competition with those who guess the correct scorelines getting prizes.
Queens Sports Club
All Afcon matches will be screened live. Tomorrow the vintage barb will show Zimbabwe’s match against Algeria with Inhloko for patrons and ice cold drinks. Entrance is free.
Cubanna
Those who want to watch the games at a serene bar then Cubanna is the place to be today and tomorrow.
Groove
As part of the joint’s weekly Sunday Deep house and Jazz sessions they will tomorrow incorporate the live screening of the Zimbabwe vs Algeria game.
There are beers on special to cool down fans’ nerves as they watch the Warriors in action.
— @ZililoR