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Tobias Mandoreba, Hwange Correspondent
ZPC Hwange have declared war on their rivals Technosphere when the two coal mining town teams clash in what should be a mouth-watering John Landa Nkomo Liquor Hub Super 8 quarter final clash at the Colliery Stadium this afternoon.

The electricity generators’ coach Njabulo “JB” Dube said they were aiming to lift the cup and have something to show for what has been an impressive season so far.

“We are taking this game very seriously and winning this cup will serve as a motivating factor to the boys in the league.

“Technosphere have improved of late but we are in no mood for favours.  Besides, a clash with a fellow town team is always a battle for supremacy so we will fight to the end so that we progress to the next stage.

“I have an array of stars but  will be banking on the experience of the likes of Brightlike Kekala in goal, defence pin Clive Ngwenya, Morgan Nyoni and 2015 Soccer Star of the Year finalist Garikayi Siangoma in the middle of the park as well as Bongani Dube and Tryson Muzamba in attack,” said the dreadlocked Dube.

He added that his side will look at maintaining consistency as they are the only club to have lost a single game in 16 matches so far in the league.
Technosphere head coach Weekly Mwale admitted they go into the match as underdogs but was confident they could cause an upset.

“It is not a secret that we go into the match against our more illustrious opponents as underdogs but derbies are always tricky and I’m sure we can surprise ZPC Hwange in front of what should be a bumper crowd.

“There is a big rivalry between the clubs and I expect my boys to raise the bar and I am sure captain Hubert Sibanda will be the stabilising factor from the heart of defence which is where our main strength lies,” said Mwale.

In the league, the two sides shared the spoils earlier this year at Lwendulu Old ground in a pulsating encounter which ended goalless.

The Super 8 tournament, which is named after the late Vice President John Landa Nkomo, is sponsored by businessman Raj Modi to the tune of $5 000 and is for teams that were in the top eight in the first half of the season.

The winners of the tourney will walk away with $1 500 and losing finalists $800.

Losing semi-finalists are guaranteed $400 each, while teams that fail to make it past the quarter-final stage will get $200.

The remainder of the sponsorship package will be used by the Zifa Southern Region to pay match officials, the police and for stadia.

Gate charges for all games have been set at $1. A double header is on the cards in the other quarter-finals to be played in Bulawayo tomorrow at White City Stadium.

Police sides Black Boots and ZRP Bulawayo will clash in the first match followed by the Bantu Rovers and Bulawayo Chiefs’ encounter.

The Rovers-Chiefs clash has been dubbed “the final before the final” and the encounter is a potential thriller.

Fixtures

Today: Technosphere v ZPC Hwange (Hwange, 3PM)

Tomorrow: Black Boots v ZRP Bulawayo Province (White City, 12PM), Victoria Falls Tigers v Amagagasi (Victoria Falls, 3PM), Bulawayo Chiefs v Bantu Rovers (White City, 3PM)