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Musa Mandaza

Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
TOP teams from the Zifa Bulawayo Metropolitan and Matabeleland North Division Two Soccer leagues will be invited to participate in the First Division knockout John Landa Nkomo Liquor Hub Cup.

The competition, sponsored by businessman Raj Modi, is one of two knockout tournaments the Southern Region Division One League has retained.

The region also retained the Trukumb Mining Enterprises sponsored Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Top 8 Cup.

Both tournaments are meant to celebrate the two late Vice-Presidents.

Musa Mandaza, Zifa Southern Region chairman, said the two tournaments would be launched later this month.

“We have retained the two annual knockout tournaments for the 2017 soccer calendar. The league is entering an exciting stage and we pity teams that will fold at this stage because they will surely miss out,” said Mandaza.

“Unlike last year when the top eight teams at midseason competed in the John Landa Nkomo Liquor Hub Cup, this time all 14 teams will be included in the tournament. We will extend invites to the top teams in the two Division Two leagues (Bulawayo and Matabeleland North) so that we have a total of 16 teams battling it out from the first round. We’re rounding off negotiations with both sponsors, but launches for the two competitions are definitely set for August,” said Mandaza.

This season’s championship favourites and Southern Region Division One League leaders Bulawayo Chiefs are the John Landa Nkomo Liquor Hub Cup defending champions, while Bosso 90 are holders of the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Top 8 Cup.

Trukumb Mining Enterprises spiced up their tournament by inviting European scouts.

Leeroy Munyorovi, Patrick Kingambo, Tawanda Machaya, Crispen Ncube, Mbekezeli Sibanda from Talen Vision and Njabulo Mpofu of Rovers were snapped up by lower leagues in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Munyorovi and Kingambo are now at Czech Republic First Division side Frydek-Mistek, with Muchaya attached to Slovakia’s third-tier side SKM Nove Zamky.

Ncube and Mpofu are at FC ViOn Zlaté Moravce from Slovakia’s Supa Liga, while Sibanda is also in Slovakia at third-tier side NSK Pichov.

Mandaza said the Trukumb Mining Enterprises officials indicated that European coaches will scout for more talent at this year’s competition.

“Due to the success of the inaugural edition of the Trukumb Cup last year, the sponsors have assured us that foreign scouts will again be invited for the 2017 edition,” Mandaza said.

Meanwhile, Tendai Zaza of Black Boots is the Nokel Security July Top Goalscorer with five goals.

Zaza will be presented with his $200 reward when the Southern Region Division One League resumes on August 12.

@ZililoR