Ndiraya craves for Chibuku

Dynamos Football Club players

Dynamos coach Tonderai Ndiraya says he is excited to meet defending champions FC Platinum in a mouth-watering Chibuku Super Cup quarter-final clash set for the National Sports Stadium in Harare on Sunday.

The Harare giants have all, but lost the league title race to FC Platinum after drawing with Black Rhinos at the weekend which gave the Zvishavane-based side an eight-point cushion with seven matches to play.

The Chibuku Super Cup represents DeMbare’s only hope to redecorate their trophy cabinet this term.

Last year, Dynamos were dumped out of the premier knockout competition by FC Platinum in the semi-finals courtesy of an Innocent Mucheneka free-kick goal in extra time at the same venue.

FC Platinum went on to win the title after they beat Ngezi Platinum Stars 5-3 on penalties following a goalless stalemate at the end of extra time.

This weekend, Dynamos have the opportunity to avenge the agonising defeat when they were odds-on favourites to take the silverware.

“We are happy with the quarter-final draw. We are ready for any team in the last eight (because) being in the last eight means you are a good team. We are prepared to meet any team now that the draw is out. We are excited to be meeting FC Platinum,” Ndiraya said.

“We know what the game brings; we know what the two teams bring on the table, of course two different styles, that's what is going to be exciting about the whole match. But I think we are clear on what we want to achieve as a team and like I said before this (Chibuku Cup) is what is in our control.

“We are not in control of the league race, but we are just hoping that we can keep notching results on the board and hope that FC Platinum slip up. So they are in control of the league race but we are both in control of the cup competition. That is what is really exciting about that match,” Ndiraya said.

Dynamos have struggled in the premier knockout competition since its return on the local scene in 2013 and are looking to break their duck.

The Glamour Boys were targeting the league title this season but after a promising start, their campaign came off the rails after a midseason slump and a resurgent FC Platinum took full advantage after their own difficult start.

On the other hand, FC Platinum are chasing a double as they lead the standings with the season approaching the climax.

Their Chibuku Super Cup triumph in the last edition was a second after they won the competition in 2014.

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