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Main picture: A female shopper takes a picture of Highlanders FC players Pasca Manhanga, a fan and Bruce Kangwa. Top inset: A TM Hyper staffer with Highlanders captain Innocent Mapuranga and supermarket manager Jeremiah Mabena. Below: From left, Godfrey Makaruse, King Nadolo and Graciano Chakafana

Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS FC captain Innocent Mapuranga believes the $110,000 TM Pick’ n Pay Challenge Cup presents an opportunity for the team to redeem lost pride against Dynamos.Bosso and DeMbare will face off in the inaugural tournament set for the National Sports Stadium next Saturday.

Speaking on the sidelines of a “Meet the fans” session at TM Hyper in Bulawayo yesterday, Mapuranga said they have set their sights on bringing home the $60,000 winners’ prizemoney.

The losers will bank $50,000.

Both teams will also receive a branded top-of-the-range Adidas kit, imported from Germany.

“In football there are three results – a win, draw or a loss but since this is a one-off game, it’s either we beat them or we lose. Everyone is working hard not only for the TM Pick’ n Pay Challenge Cup against Dynamos but for the league matches as well.

“We are grateful to the sponsors for affording us an opportunity to play Dynamos and probably make up for previous losses. As much as it is about the prizemoney, pride and lost glory are what we will be playing for,” said Mapuranga.

Yesterday’s activity at TM Hyper was part of the promotional roles that both Dynamos and Highlanders players and officials are expected to play for the retail giant in the countdown to the big match.

Next week, Highlanders will hold a similar activity in Harare where they will take photographs with shoppers at one of the TM branches.

The Bosso captain, who yearns to beat Dynamos, said meeting fans had given them the zeal to fight for a win.

“We owe everything to the fans. They have been there for us over the years and I must say this feels good to be close to them as a squad like this. They see us from a distance when we are playing but now that we are interacting with them we get to know how they really feel about the squad. I can say meeting them has been inspirational and hopefully we are going to come out with a positive result next week.

Actually we always prepare to win whether it’s a cup or league game,” said Mapuranga.

Organisers of the tournament have pegged the cheapest ticket at $1 and expect a full house as the PSL have agreed to postpone all league matches.

The match will also act as the Grand Draw event for the TM Pick’ n Pay Big Brands Bargain Bonanza Promotion, a retail promotion that has been running at all TM and Pick’ n Pay stores nationwide and which started on July 17, and will end on Thursday.

The retail company will give away 17 Jeep Compasses with the grand prize being a Jeep Cherokee.

“We are appealing to the people of Zimbabwe to go in their numbers to the game. Besides watching the country’s big two, lucky shoppers stand a chance to get awesome prizes,” said TM Hyper manager Jeremiah Mabena.