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Paul Mundandi in Zvishavane
FC Platinum vice captain Thabani Kamusoko and Harare City’s big forward Francesco Zekumbawire are both confident of lifting the $500,000 Chibuku Super Cup when the two teams clash at Mandava Stadium tomorrow.Kamusoko leads the platinum miners against a tricky Harare City in a final that has an added incentive of representing Zimbabwe in the Caf Confederation Cup competition next year. But first there is the $70,000 first prize and trophy to fight for, then Africa. Losers will walk home with $50,000.

For Kamusoko, a win will be an early Christmas present for gaffer Norman Mapeza who literally turned around the fortunes of the club.

The match will not be televised live as SuperSport is covering the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Fans will pay $1 for the cheapest ticket.

It will be the third cup final to be played in the mineral rich town.

“We’re focused on the match and we definitely want a win. We aren’t afraid of Harare City but we respect them as a team with very good players and a very good coach so I will not say much about them. We’re doing well as a team and working very hard. We’re all committed and our coach is focused,” said the 26 year old Kamusoko, a Soccer Star of the Year finalist favourite.

The midfielder has had a brilliant season.

The former Sundowns and Dynamos player is a tried and tested veteran and has been directing operations on the field of play in the absence of captain Daniel Veremu whose career has been dogged by injuries this season.

Veremu has also been ordered to shed weight by his coach and since then he has failed to make it in the first eleven.

Mapeza a shrewd tactician does not lose matches easily especially at home. He has transformed platinum into a winning unit and everyone in the mining town now believes in the coach. After losing to Highlanders at home, Mapeza’s boys pumped six goals past Caps United in the ZNA Charities Cup and beat the same opponent in the Chibuku Super tie a week later.

Harare City’s big forward, Zekumbawire has urged his teammates to put their poor league form behind them and concentrate on the job at hand tomorrow.

Speaking to our sister paper H-Metro, the former Hwange and Dynamos forward said they are motivated to fight for the cup.

“We suffered four consecutive defeats and drew one match against Caps United, that shows there’s some improvement. We’re in the right direction and I don’t see us failing to beat FC Platinum, we need this cup more than any other team,” said the big forward.

He however acknowledged that the platinum miners have been playing well ever since Mapeza came on board.