The Sunday Mail
Online Reporter
LLOYD MUTASA and Arthur Tutani are in for an interesting battle on Saturday.
Mutasa’s Green Fuel, who won the Eastern Region Division One championship, will face Northern Region kings Simba Bhora in the Champions of Champions Cup at Wadzanai Stadium in Shamva.
Northern Region Division One League executive committee member Sweeney Mushonga confirmed the fixture on Tuesday.
“This is a once-off match; the winners of the Eastern Region taking on Northern Region champions,” he said.
Mushonga has been part of the cast behind the success of the Northern Region league, which arguably eclipsed the Premier Soccer League (PSL) in terms of marketing and crowds.
The Axis Solutions Super 8 Cup final between Simba Bhora and Golden Eagles held at Rufaro Stadium recently once again proved how the Northern Region League has become a major attraction.
Golden Eagles beat Simba Bhora 2-0 to clinch the Axis Solutions Super 8 Cup in front of an appreciative crowd.
This time, the show is at Wadzanai Stadium, where some of the best players in Division One will showcase their talent before an anticipated capacity crowd.
Simba Bhora will be parading stars like Ronald “Rooney” Chitiyo, Tinashe Balakasi, Simba Chinani and Webster Tafa.
Green Fuel, on their part, have the likes of Claude “Pokello” Mapako, Ishmael Lawe, Obey Mwerahari and Leeroy Murape.
Former FC Platinum winger Marshal Mudehwe and ex-Dynamos wide man Cleopas Kapupurika are also at Green Fuel.
Balakasi, who won the Northern Region Golden Boot after firing in 29 goals for Simba Bhora, and Mapako are two of the hottest properties in Division One football.
Simba Bhora captain Brighton Tuwaya, who keeps going at the age of 40, is one of the most experienced players in the second-tier league.
Tuwaya is a former Dynamos player who featured for the Harare giants in the 2008 Champions League.
DeMbare, who were under the guidance of the late David “Yogi” Mandigora, reached the semi-final of Africa’s biggest club tournament.
They lost 4-0 on aggregate to Coton Sport of Cameroon.
Players such as Desmond Maringwa, Murape Murape, Edward Sadomba, Reuben Mhlanga, Willard Manyatera and Lovemore Mapuya, who featured in that Dynamos team, have since retired.
But somehow Tuwaya still has some energy in the tank and captained Simba Bhora to the championship title.
