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Kenny Ndebele

Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS and FC Platinum will clash for the third time this year and twice inside a week at Barbourfields Stadium when they meet in the semi-finals of the 32nd edition of the Independence Cup on Saturday.

The other semi-final will feature league champions Chicken Inn against Dynamos in the capital.

As a result of the Uhuru matches, the Premier Soccer League has since postponed its league programme for the weekend, with chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele saying the matches would now take place the following weekend.

“This serves to advise that the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Match Day 3 fixtures scheduled for Saturday 16 April 2016 have been postponed in order to accommodate the Zimbabwe Independence Cup semi-final matches. Match Day 3 matches will now be played on the weekend of 23/24 April 2016.

The clubs participating in the Independence Cup semi-final matches will be advised of the competition rules and regulations in due course,” said the PSL in a statement released yesterday.

Both semis are expected to be a blood and thunder affair heavily influenced by the zeal to get even by both Highlanders and Dynamos.

Bosso lost 1-2 to FC Platinum in a league match on Sunday, while Dynamos were trounced 0-3 by Chicken Inn in the season opener.

Both giants have won the Independence Cup a record seven times since the first final in 1983 when they met with Dynamos winning 2-1.
FC Platinum are the holders of the Independence Cup after they beat Dynamos 3-0 on penalties in 2014. Last year’s final between the same sides was abandoned due to poor floodlights with Dynamos leading 1-0.

The two losing semi-finalists will clash in the third place play-off on Independence Day at White City Stadium on Monday.

Bosso and FC Platinum also locked horns in the semis of the ZNA Commander’s Charities, with Bosso progressing on penalties, and FC Platinum might be eager to boot them out of the cup this time around.

On the other hand, avoiding a double loss inside seven days to the same opponent might be the motivation Highlanders need to rise to the occasion.