Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. DEFENDING champions Dynamos will be looking to put their league woes aside and take another step towards a historic third consecutive Chibuku Super Cup title when they face a tricky ZPC Kariba side in a quarterfinal clash at Rufaro Stadium this afternoon.
For the Glamour Boys, this cup encounter is more than just a shot at silverware; it’s a vital distraction from their dire situation in the league.
DeMbare are currently fighting for survival, sitting in 16th place on the 18-team standings, with only six matches remaining and four teams set to be relegated.
Securing both their topflight status and the Chibuku Super Cup would undoubtedly salvage what has been a disappointing season.
Dynamos’ path to the quarterfinals has been a tense one, having needed penalty shootouts to overcome Yadah in the preliminary round and Simba Bhora in the first round.
This demonstrates their resilience in knockout competition, even when things are not going their way in the league.
“This is a Cup game and there has to be a winner at the end of the day. Our approach is for us to be ready and believe that we are going into this encounter as the defending champion,” coach Kelvin Kaindu said.
“We are taking every game serious. I said that the league is far away from us we can’t talk about winning the championship the only consolation that we have is the Chibuku Cup which we are playing,” he added.
ZPC Kariba, however, will be no pushovers.
Also embroiled in the relegation battle, they have shown a recent upturn in form, with two wins in their last three league matches.
This includes an impressive 3-1 victory over Harare giants Caps United at the very same Rufaro Stadium, a result that highlights their ability to cause an upset on the big stage.
Kaindu is well aware of the threat, calling ZPC Kariba unpredictable and a team able to pull off a surprise.
The Dynamos coach believes in his team’s pedigree and confidence, especially with the home crowd at Rufaro backing them.
He also confirmed that the squad is in good shape, with only Temptation Chiwunga sidelined, while Frank Agmeyang is available for selection despite not being 100% fit.
“This is a Cup game and it has got no draw at the end of the day, there must be a winner and if it is not decided in the 90 minutes, it will be decided in penalty shootouts,” Kaindu mused.
“We have done well in the last two games that we played in Chibuku, qualifying through penalties, also playing teams like Simba Bhora.
“It shows that we have got the pedigree. We believe in ourselves and have got confidence.
“Also playing at home with the crowd backing and supporting us, I am sure we will be ready, but we don’t want to underrate our opponents. We know what they can do on a good day.”
This quarterfinal showdown promises to be a fascinating battle of two teams desperate for a positive result.
While the stakes are high for both clubs in the league, the Chibuku Super Cup offers a chance for redemption.
Dynamos are the proven cup specialists, but ZPC Kariba’s recent form makes them a formidable opponent.
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