Highlanders seek to extend Chibuku Cup dominance

Sport
It is now 41 years since Highlanders bagged their first Chibuku Cup having beaten the now defunct Mangula 3-0 in the 1973 final

It is now 41 years since Highlanders bagged their first Chibuku Cup having beaten the now defunct Mangula 3-0 in the 1973 final. They proceeded to win the cup four more times and became the record holders.

MICHAEL MADYIRA

The tournament is back after a 24-year hiatus under a new brand, the Chibuku Super Cup.

Today, Bosso begin their quest to extend their authority in the Chibuku tournament against Shabanie Mine at a neutral Ascot.

Coach Kelvin Kaindu is under spotlight to emulate the classes of 1973, 1980, 1984, 1986 and 1989 that bagged the trophy.

The 1973 crop which opened the account of Chibuku trophies had the likes of Bruce Grobbelaar, Tymon Mabaleka (late), Boetie Van As, Josiah Nxumalo, Ananias Ncube and captain Lawrence “Lofty” Phiri.

A star-studded class of 1990 that closed their haul of the trophy had Peter and Adam Ndlovu, Willard Khumalo, Peter Nkomo and was captained by Fanuel Dube. Khumalo and Nkomo are still with Bosso but in the technical department.

Bosso, however, appear jinxed to lose at Ascot. Victory has eluded them twice at this Gweru football pitch this term. A goalless draw with Chapungu in a league match in April and a penalty shootout loss to How Mine in the quarterfinals of the NetOne One Wallet Cup last month has made Ascot an unwelcome hunting ground for Kelvin Kaindu’s men.

Since the loss to How Mine, they have lost momentum, failing to win their last four games and making it an uninspiring five-match winless streak.

But coach Kaindu has not lost all hope. “This is an important game for us,” said Kaindu. “We do not want to look at past games because this is a different tournament and different opposition. The better side will win on Sunday [today].”

Kaindu also refused to read into their 4-1 beating of Shabanie Mine in a home league match in April.

“If we dwell much on that match it will deceive us. Every game is different so we just have to concentrate on the match at hand,” he said.

The Zambian will not unleash mid-season signings Tapiwa Dephistara and Webster Chingodza with the former yet to be cleared by his former club Chiredzi United while the latter is out.

Shabanie Mine are equally struggling, having gone for six straight matches without tasting victory and in the process plunging into the relegation zone. The asbestos miners’ coach John Phiri has come under pressure from the club executive which has given him an ultimatum. “This is a money game,” he said.

“It is a matter of confidence and concentration that wins Cup games. I believe we can match Highlanders pound for pound judging from the last time we played them. For my players, they have an opportunity to market themselves in such high-profile games.”

Shabanie have not won any piece of silverware for more than a decade since the 2003 OK Woza Bhora Cup.