Khama Billiat
By Dickson Bandera
Intense matches, standout performances, and unforgettable moments are on the horizon as Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League (PSL) teams gear up for the Chibuku Super Cup.
The draw, held today in Harare, set the stage for PSL teams to battle for supremacy as local soccer continues to make positive strides.
The competition kicks off with the preliminary round on August 7 at Mandava Stadium, Zvishavane with the final match slated for November 30.
The preliminary round features the four bottom-placed teams on the PSL log standings vying for a spot in the first round. TelOne, affectionately known as The WiFi Boys, will face Arenel Movers, while Chegutu Pirates take on Hwange. The winners of these matches will advance to the first round, joining the 14 top teams in Zimbabwean football to make a 16 team first round.
In the first round, scheduled for August 17-18, Zvishavane-based league champions FC Platinum will play the winner of the TelOne vs. Arenel Movers clash, while the Jairosi Tapera-coached side Manica Diamonds will lock horns with the victor of Chegutu Pirates vs. Hwange match.
The highly anticipated fixture between Greenfuel and Bulawayo-based Highlanders promises to be a nail-biter, with both teams eager to make a strong start in the tournament. Highlanders last lifted the Chibuku Super Cup in 2019 and will be out to end their five-year drought.
Harare giants Caps United and Dynamos will also be in action, both expecting to add some glory to their run by winning this coveted trophy. Dynamos, the most successful club in Zimbabwean football history and the defending champions of the Chibuku Cup, will face ZPC Kariba in a match where Dynamos are favourites. With their ups and downs this season, that have put coach Genesis KaKa Mangombe under pressure, Dembare is expected to rise to the occasion and defend the trophy which they won last year after defeating Ngezi Platinum.
Caps United, better known as Makepekepe, who recently saw head coach Lloyd Chitembwe resign will go head-to-head with Bikita Minerals in what is expected to be a fiercely contested match. Bikita Minerals, currently sitting in 11th position on the PSL log with only six losses in 25 outings, has become a tricky side. They held Highlanders to a 1-all draw in June and both Dynamos and Caps United to goalless draws in July. The team is likely to give Caps United a run for their money.
Another exciting encounter features Bulawayo-based Chicken Inn taking on Yadah. Yadah, with its beautiful Heart Stadium as a home ground, has been in formidable form thanks to the resurgence of star attacking midfielder Khama Billiat, who has been scoring goals for fun since his return to Zimbabwe after more than a decade in South Africa.
Fans will be eager to see if Billiat can continue his goal-scoring spree and lead Yadah to victory. If Billiat can lift the Chibuku Super Cup, it will be his first-ever cup on home soil.
Other fixtures include 2023 Chibuku Super Cup finalists Ngezi Platinum facing Bulawayo Chiefs, and Shamva-based Simba Bhora going up against the students, Herentals.
The 2024 Chibuku Super Cup promises to be a thrilling showcase of Zimbabwean football talent as the sport once again gains ground to claim its place on the sports landscape.
The competition will progress through the quarter-finals on September 21-22, followed by the semi-finals on October 26-27. The grand finale, set for November 30, will determine the ultimate champion of the 2024 Chibuku Super Cup.
