ON THE BALL: Grand old dame of local cup football

16 Nov, 2014 - 06:11 0 Views
ON THE BALL: Grand old dame of local cup football Charles Mabika

The Sunday Mail

ALTHOUGH FC Platinum and Harare City currently enjoy contrasting fortunes in the status quo of the Castle Lager Premiership standings — with “Pure Platinum Play” gunning for a top-three finish whilst “The Sunshine Boys” are fighting for dear life at the opposite end — I’m sure the fans who will be at Mandava for the Chibuku Super Cup final will be treated to some classical exchanges.

Besides the whopping US$75 000 winners’ cheque, the victors will also earn the ticket to represent the nation in next season’s CAF Confederations Cup.

The Chibuku Super Cup tournament — previously known as the Chibuku Trophy — is one of the oldest competitions to be sponsored by Delta Beverages and was inaugurated back in 1966 and the first team to win it was Cam and Motor Mine, who beat Bulawayo Callies 2-1 in the final.

The competition ran for 25 years with Bulawayo giants, Highlanders, winning it a record six times during that period.

For me, the most exciting final (and Delta Beverages’ marketing director, Maxen Karombo, who also witnessed the epic event, agrees with me) was back in 1987, when arch-rivals Black Rhinos and CAPS United clashed in a final that needed a replay to decide the winners.

Both encounters were at Rufaro and the first match — which ended in a 3-3 stalemate — remains as one of the most exhilarating football ties that I’ve ever witnessed.

Chauya Chipembere had in their line-up, on that afternoon, megastars like goalkeeper, Japhet “Short Cat” Mparutsa, Simon “AK” Mugabe (late), Eddie “Smart Boy” Matsika, Lovemore “Red Robot” Chikunha (late), William “Weeds” Chikauro, Stanley “Sinyo” Ndunduma (late), Hamid “Muzukuru” Dhana, Stanford “Stix” Mtizwa, Maronga “The Bomber” Nyangela, Gift “Shaft” Makoni, Lesley “Muchinda” Kamuyoyo and Jerry “Dzungu” Chidawa (late).

“The Green Machine” featured stalwarts who included Joel “Jubilee” Shambo, Clever “Mwani” Muzuva, Shacky “Mr Goals” Tauro, Gift “MacGyver” Mudangwe (all late), David “Bambo” Gwanzura, Friday “Amayenge” Phiri and goalkeeper, Brenna “Ba Gari” Msiska.

The blockbuster encounter was a see-saw affair which saw the lead changing hands twice after some trailblazing finishes.

The scorers for the army outfit were Nyangela, Chidawa and Ndunduma (oh, what a beauty of an equaliser in extra time that “Sinyo” scored, after being set up by Mugabe, with only six minutes to go to make it 3-3 and force a replay!).

Tauro grabbed a brace for Makepekepe, with Phiri weighing in with the other goal.

The replay, although not as high-scoring as the first match, was equally absorbing and contained countless hair-raising moments.

Rhinos eventually won 2-1, with Mtizwa grabbing both goals and Mudangwe replying for CAPS United.

In addition, the Chibuku Trophy competition also saw clubs like Hippo Valley, Chibuku Shumba, Metal Box, Black Aces, Rio Tinto, Fire Batteries, Arcadia United, Olympics, Eagles (Bulawayo), Meilkes, Salisbury Callies, who are all no longer in existence, shine on the big stage and leave lasting moments in the football fraternity.

Now, those were the days of the real deal of competitive football and I sincerely hope that “The Sunshine Boys” and “Pure Platinum Play” will, this afternoon, rekindle the memories of that 1987 epic encounter as the Chibuku Super Cup re-ignites its explosive journey into wonderland after a 23-year sabbatical.

This season’s Castle Soccer Star of the Year finalists will be selected next Saturday in the capital. And it might prove to be a daunting task for the selectors because there were no real, shining performers who stood head and shoulders above the rest.

Here are the players that I think might stand a chance of making it into the Top 11:

 

Black Rhinos — Brian Muzondiwa, Nesbert Padzarondora

Buffaloes — Tafadzwa Mombeshora, Moses Gutu

Caps Utd — Tendai Samanja, Hardlife Zvirekwi, Ronald Pfumbidzai, Stephen Makatuka.

Chicken Inn — Clemence Matawu, Timothy January

Dynamos — Augustine Mbara, Themba Ndlovu, Stephen Alimenda, Thomas Magorimbo

FC Platinum — Wisdom Mutasa, Walter Musona, Obrey Chirwa, Thabani Kamusoko

Chiredzi — Malvern Gaki, Tawanda Muyendi

Harare City — David Kutyauripo, Francesco Zekumbawire

Highlanders — Felix Chindungwe, Charles Sibanda, Bruce Kangwa

How Mine — Donovan Bernard, Menard Mupera

Chapungu — Philip Marufu, Blessing Zabula

Shabanie Mine — Douglas Sibanda, Zvenyika Makonese

Hwange — David Boriwondo, Evans Rusike, Farai Vimisayi

Triangle Utd — Ronald Mudimu, Richard Kawondera

Bantu Rovers — Teenage Hadebe, Herbert Dick

ZPC Kariba — Tendai Hove, Dennis Dauda, Pride Tafirenyika, Limited Chikafa

Who are your choices?

Till next week, remember to take care of your loved ones and each. It’s bye bye for now.

 

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