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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
Bulawayo soccer fans will not enjoy soccer action this weekend despite the fact that the city has three representatives in the $433,000 Easycall Cup because the three teams were all drawn away in the quarter-finals of the knockout event.

Castle Lager Premier Soccer League leaders Chicken Inn will travel to Nyamhunga Stadium for a date with ZPC Kariba in one of the two quarter-final games set for this Saturday. Caps United entertain Hwange at the giant National Sports Stadium.

On Sunday, Highlanders travel to Mandava Stadium in Zvishavane for their tie against FC Platinum and How Mine take on 2014 finalists Dynamos at Rufaro Stadium in Harare.

Although the PSL said the top four teams were seeded and given home advantage, it has emerged that no NetOne match has ever been staged in Bulawayo since the mobile network operator’s marriage with the league in 2011.

“This was as per the 2014 log standings with the top four clubs seeded and therefore playing at home,” said Elisha Mandireva, the PSL competitions manager.

The 2011 and 2012 editions, which were both won by Dynamos, were held in Harare before the tournament was shifted to Mandava Stadium in Zvishavane the following year and was won by Chicken Inn who beat Caps United.

Last year, the quarter-finals saw Chicken Inn travelling to Mandava Stadium to face FC Platinum, before returning to the same venue for the semi-final where they lost to eventual winners Triangle.

The other quarter-final encounter between Highlanders and How Mine was staged at Ascot Stadium in Gweru while Dynamos played against Caps United at the National Sports Stadium.

DeMbare then met How Mine in the semi-finals at Mandava Stadium where they prevailed to book a date with Triangle in the final at the National Sports Stadium.

NetOne spokesman John Nyashanu sounded surprised when informed that his company’s sponsored tournament had never been played in Bulawayo.

“Let me contact my principals for an official comment regarding that. I’ll get back to you,” said Nyashanu.

He later said the chief executive officer was out of the country and could therefore not issue a statement “without authority from my principals”.

The semi-finals of this year’s edition of the Easycall Cup will take place on the weekend of December 6-7 with the final scheduled a week later.

Winners will pocket $80,000 and the losing finalists $50,000.

Losing semi-finalists are each guaranteed $30,000 while the quarter-final casualties will go home with $20,000 each.