Langton Nyakwenda
AFTER guiding Triangle United back into the Premier Soccer League, veteran coach Luke Masomere, now wants to put the icing on the cake by winning the inaugural Champions of Champions Cup.
The Champions of Champions Cup features winners of the four Division One regions – Central, Eastern, Northern and Southern.
Kwekwe United (Central Region), Triangle United (Eastern Region), Scottland FC (Northern Region) and ZPC Hwange (Southern Region) will clash in a two-day tournament that kicks off at Bata Stadium in Gweru this afternoon.
Triangle United will play Kwekwe United in the first semifinal at noon this before Scottland FC squares up against ZPC Hwange in the second semifinal.
Bata Stadium will also host the final tomorrow.
โAs Triangle United, we are taking this tournament seriously because we want to end the year on a high.
โWe want to put the icing on the cake by doing well in this tourney,โ Masomere told Zimpapers Sports Hub.
Scottland FC are huge favourites to lift the cup as they have a number of experienced and talented players in their camp including the ex-Warriors duo of Ronald Pfumbidzai and Lincoln Zvasiya.
The Mabvuku side can also bank on the exploits of King Nadolo, Leeroy Mavhunga and crowd favourite Denver Mukamba.
Pedzai โScottโ Sakupwanyaโs side are also renowned for dangling hefty bonuses for their players.
โEverything is well in our camp and the players are all fit,โ Scottland FC manager, Tawanda Chidzidzi, said.
โItโs good for a new team like Scottland FC to play in this tournament. We are a new team and we are still learning.
โBut thanks to the grace of God, we managed to win the Northern Region championship.
โAs the manager I am so happy with this achievement and it shows we can make things happen.โ
Kwekwe United coach, Prince Matore, is also eyeing a double after making history by bringing Premiership football to the mining town of Kwekwe.
There has been no top flight football in Kwekwe since the relegation of Lancashire Steel in 2008.
โThis will be a meeting of regional champions, and we want to be the champions and rule everyone,โ Matore said.
โWe are fully focused on winning the knock-out competition.
โWe know it wonโt be easy, but we are confident in our abilities and are looking forward to the challenge,โ said Matore.
Since Gweru is less than 100km from Kwekwe, Matore wants fans to travel and make noise at Bata.
โWe will need their (fans) energy and enthusiasm to drive us on and help us achieve our goal.
โWe are all excited about the prospect of winning the competition, and we hope that our fans will be able to join us in celebrating what we hope will be a successful weekend,โ added Matore.