Glamour Boys face the Mighty Bull

The Charity Shield is traditionally the premier soccer league seasons opener and Motor Action head coach, Joey Antipas, knows what follows after todays battle. He told The Zimbabwean he needs to prepare his boys for their biggest challenge, this year.

This years league season will be very different from last years, especially for us. This one comes with a big challenge against other rising big teams, such as Platinum Stars who have a strong financial backing, said Antipas. We were more like underdogs last season, especially after fighting relegation the year before. We certainly had no pressure and we managed to take most teams by surprise; but this year we start the competition as defending champions – which gives us a big task.

But the boys are aware of that and the mood at training is very good, they are putting in 100 percent effort to everything we do and it is a good sign. We are up for the challenge. Winning todays game will set the pace and high spirits needed for the desired results in the 2011 Castle Premier Soccer League season, expected to kick-off next weekend with a lucrative sponsorship package of $600 000.

Former League Champions Dynamos are conscious of the terrible consequences of taking the Bulls for granted this weekend and all through this year. Head coach Lloyd Mutasa and his troop of young Glamour Boys need to unleash one of their best performances such as they displayed in their past two matches against Highlanders and Caps United.

We need to stick to our plans, give the game our best and avoid giving them too much respect as the defending league champions. The game means a lot to us and getting a win this weekend will be a good morale booster for the league, said Mutasa.

A sponsorship package of $200 000 was unveiled for todays tournament where the winner will walk away $40 000 richer. The runners-up will be awarded $20 000 for their competitive performance. The player to impress as the man of the match will receive a prize of $300, and all proceeds from gate takings will be donated to different charity organisations around the country.