JOHANNESBURG Zimbabwe will have 13 of its soccer stars vying for top honours in South Africas R8 million MTN8 trophy, which roars into life at Cape Towns Athlone stadium tomorrow night. The first game, pitting hosts Ajax Cape Town against Pretoria-based Mamelodi Sundowns, will see the biggest face-off among Zimbabwean players, with seven of them expected to take to the field.
Sundowns have four Zimbabweans in defensive midfielders Esrom Nyandoro and Lionel Mtizwa, the versatile Method Mwanjali and striker Nyasha Mushekwi. Ajax, on the other hand, have three Zimbabweans in their playing ranks youthful striker Archieford Gutu and midfielders Khama Billiart and Tafadzwa Rusike.
The Urban Warriors also have former Warriors striker Wilfred Mugeyi as their assistant coach.
On Saturday afternoon, impressive midfielder Oscar Machapa will be expected to lead the Moroka Swallows charge at Johannesburgs Dobsonville stadium, when the Dube Birds host three-time league champions Supersport United. Supersport United have no Zimbabwean player in their ranks, so the former Caps United star, who has already received a lot of praise from caoch Rainer Zobel, will be the only Zimbabwean player in action there, if he gets the nod.
Tinashe Nengomasha, still nursing heartbreak over his apparent failure to land a contract at Qatar, will lead the Zimbabwean pack for Kaizer Chiefs, when the Amakhosi host Blomfontein Celtic at the Naturena-based clubs new home ground the Rand Stadium Sunday night.
Chiefs also have nippy Warriors fullback Jimmy Jambo, steady central defender Thomas Sweswe and tenacious striker Knowledge Musona in their ranks.
Central defender Zvenyika Makonese and his Orlando Pirates will complete the Zimbabwean fight at Sowetos Orlando Stadium Sunday night, when his club hosts Cape Town-based Santos in the final quarter-final fixture of the winner-takes-all competition, which is contested for by clubs that end the ABSA Premiership season in the top eight positions.
Durban-based Lamontville Golden Arrows, who won last years tournament by decimating Ajax 6-0 at the Orlando Stadoum, will not defend their crown this year, after they failed to reach the top eight position in the 2009/10 season.
Post published in: Football