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Tendai Chikuni

Lovemore Zigara and Paul Mundandi, Harare Bureau
AIRMEN Chapungu entertain How Mine in the Chibuku Super Cup quarter-final match at their favourite hunting ground Ascot Stadium this afternoon, confident of progressing to the next stage.

Following the elimination of the so-called big guns in the competition save for Caps United who face Shabanie Mine at Maglas tomorrow, all the teams will fancy their chances of the Chibuku Super Cup.

How Mine are yet to lift any silverware since they joined the elite league and the closest they came was in 2013 when they reached the final of the Chibuku Super Cup but were walloped 3-0 in the final to settle for a runner up spot.

For the airmen, apart from the Defence Forces’ Trophy, the last time “Waru Waru” lifted a major silverware was 22 years ago when they won the Castle Cup.

Chapungu come into the match on the back of an impressive home record where they have only lost twice this season to Hwange and Dynamos.

Tendai Chikuni, Chapungu’s coach is not interested in statistics and said his is to focus on the game at hand not history.

“We are just focused on the game and not worried much about history. We are playing How Mine which is not an easy opponent and we have done everything to psyche up the boys ahead of the game. This is a cup game, different from a league match and our approach will be different.

“I respect How Mine because they are one of the most tactically aware teams but our objective is to get to the next round,” Chikuni said.

His counterpart, Kelvin Kaindu was cautious ahead of today’s match but was equally confident of reaching the semi-finals.

“It’s an honour to be playing Chapungu who eliminated pre-tournament favourites FC Platinum. That they eliminated the favourites means they need to be treated with respect. That we are playing them at their home ground gives them an advantage as the ground has always been difficult to play but we have prepared well for this game,” said Kaindu.

How Mine held Chapungu to a 0-0 draw in their last visit to Ascot in a league match.

Meanwhile, Shabanie Mine captain Farai Mupasiri said they are geared up for Caps United.

Caps United are still to win at Maglas since 2006 and it now looks as if they are cursed.

“We are playing well and do not write us off. We are not easy to beat at home and we are playing good football. I feel it’s going to be a very big task for any team to beat us whether home or away. We have a young, amazing squad and do not write us off. We are on a good spell and we are motivated,” said Mupasiri.

Shabanie Mine’s technical director, Taku Shariwa, declared war on Caps United, saying the Harare side will not proceed to the quarter-finals of the Chibuku Super Cup easily.

“We do not fear Caps United, but we respect them. I am very confident and I believe in my youngsters that they will be able to do duty on Sunday. We are also hungry for success as coaches and we want to create a niche in the coaching sphere. If we eliminate Caps then people must know that we will go all the way to the finals,” Shariwa said.

Joe Nyabinde, Mupasiri and his brother Wilson, Nyasha Mupumha and Wellington Taderera are expected to carry the day for Shabanie.