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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter—
BULAWAYO giants Highlanders’ resurgence will be tested when they lock horns with old foes Dynamos in the semi-finals of the $433,000 Easycall Cup at Barbourfields Stadium on the weekend of December 5-6. Newly crowned Castle Lager Premier Soccer League champions Chicken Inn will take on former Cup Kings Caps United in the other semi-final also in the City of Kings.

In a draw conducted at the Premier Soccer League headquarters in Harare yesterday, the two semis have been set for Barbourfields Stadium after the sponsors NetOne heeded complaints about their perceived snubbing of Bulawayo since the cup was introduced in 2011.

“We’re yet to confirm which match will be played when, but what I can confirm is that the two semi-finals will be at Barbourfields Stadium,” said PSL competitions manager Elisha Mandireva. There is now a high likelihood that the end of season final could be staged in Bulawayo, especially if the two city teams both go through.

It’s in no doubt though that Bulawayo will witness two very explosive matches in a befitting end to the domestic football scene. Amahlolanyama, enjoying a new lease of life under interim head coach Amini Soma-Phiri during which they have now gone for six games without defeat, a feat they had last enjoyed during the Kelvin Kaindu era, have been presented with a perfect opportunity to register a second win over their perennial rivals inside a year.

Bosso have recorded five wins and a single draw in all competitions since their 1-3 defeat to Caps United. They face a Dynamos side that they beat 1-0 in the ZNA Charities Cup final courtesy of an Obadiah Tarumbwa strike to post their first victory over the Glamour Boys since 2011.

However, that victory is not really considered worth talking about since it was just a ceremonial cup. This year, DeMbare controversially beat Highlanders 3-2 in the first leg of their league fixture at Rufaro Stadium before the two giants played to a 1-1 draw at Emagumeni.

Soma-Phiri might just be what the doctor ordered for Highlanders to beat Dynamos. Newly crowned league champions Chicken Inn skipper Danny “Deco” Phiri has already declared war on their Easycall Cup opponents saying their sights are firmly set on the league and cup double.

Phiri said his teammates could now play freely knowing that they are champions. He said the pressure would be on the other teams, which want to end the season with silverware. Their opponents Makepekepe have been playing an exciting brand of football under interim coach Lloyd Chitembwe and will go into the match with a psychological advantage having defeated the Gamecocks 2-0 in the first leg of the league before holding them to a goalless draw at Luveve Stadium.

Winners of the Easycall Cup will pocket $80,000 and the losing finalists $50,000. The losing semi finalists are each guaranteed of $30,000 while the first round casualties will take home $20,000.

Easycall Cup semi-finals draw

Highlanders v Dynamos, Caps United v Chicken Inn