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Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter

PREMIER Soccer League teams that have fallen by the wayside in the title race have been presented with an opportunity to compete for silverware following the launch of the 2022 Chibuku Super Cup yesterday.

The Delta Beverages sponsored tournament will run from August 6 and the finals are set for November 19.

With three teams — FC Platinum, Chicken Inn and Dynamos — gunning for the league championship, the other Premiership teams have a chance to save their season by making sure that they win the Chibuku Super Cup.

Delta Beverages marketing manager — sorghum, Patience Dingani said they are looking forward to a thrilling tournament.

Patience Dingani

“After a two-year break caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, we made a commitment last year at the relaunch to continue with this partnership. Today is the fulfilment of that commitment, a strong commitment to the development of sports in the country. As a reminder, our Chibuku Super Cup total sponsorship over a three-year remains at US$375 000,” Dingani said.

It will take five games for teams that are in the bottom four to lift the Chibuku Super Cup, a tournament that headlined yesteryear football calendars before being reintroduced in 2014.

FC Platinum won the 2014 edition as well as the 2021 title, Harare City were crowned champions in 2015 and 2017, with Ngezi Platinum winning the 2016 edition and Triangle United claiming the 2018 crown.

Highlanders became the first traditional football giant to lift the latest version of the competition in 2019 when they edged Ngezi Platinum 1-0.

FC Platinum won the country’s first competition after the return of football following a two-year break due to Covid-19 last year, needing penalty shootouts to claim the Chibuku Super Cup at the expense of Ngezi Platinum Stars at Mandava Stadium. The match had ended 0-0 after extra time, before FC Platinum went on to win the penalty shootout 5-3.

Last year’s competition, used as a precursor for the return of the PSL, was gruelling as teams played more games, starting with group games that were played over two legs, with the top two in the four groups progressing to the quarterfinals, then semi-finals, leading to the final.

This year’s edition has returned to its original format, with the top 14 teams as at Week 17 avoiding the preliminary round.

For the 14 teams that will start their campaign in the first-round that kicks off on the weekend of August 20-21, the short route to the Chibuku Super Cup glory is winning four matches – first round, quarterfinals to be played on the weekend of September 17-18, semi-finals set for October 15-16 and the November 19 final.

The road to the final starts with Cranborne Bullets taking on Whawha in the first preliminary encounter, with the other fixture to decide which team goes through to the first round pitting ZPC Kariba and Bulawayo City.

The top eight teams as at Week 17 were seeded for the first round draw, with Chicken Inn who were at the apex set to open their account against Harare City.

FC Platinum begin their title defence against Tenax CS FC, while Harare giants will take on the winner between Cranborne Bullets and Whawha.

The other first round matches will see Manica Diamonds taking on Yadah, Triangle United locking horns with Highlanders, Black Rhinos facing Caps United, Ngezi Platinum Stars playing Herentals and Bulawayo Chiefs facing the winner of the ZPC Kariba-Bulawayo City preliminary match. – @ZililoR