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Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
THE battle for a top four finish in the Zifa Southern Region Division One league is set to intensify with the best four teams set to battle for the second edition of the Liquor Hub John Landa Nkomo Memorial Cup.

The tournament is sponsored by Liquor Hub to the tune of $5 000. Winners of the cup will get $1 300, while the runners up will walk away $600 richer. The third and fourth-placed teams will each get $300.

Champions Bulawayo Chiefs and confirmed runners up ZPC Hwange have sealed their qualification for the cup and have to wait a little longer to know their other two opponents.

Makomo, Bosso 90 and Zim Leopards are tussling for the remaining two slots, paving the way for an exciting finish to the season. Chiefs will face the side that finishes fourth, while ZPC Hwange will square off with the third-placed team.

The seeded teams will play their games at home, with dates for the games set to be released in due course.

ZPC Hwange are the defending champions after beating Bulawayo Chiefs 1-0 in the inaugural edition of the tournament last year.

Liquor Hub’s Eliphas Mashaba said they were pleased to help in improving the game in the Southern Region.

“The sponsor promised this will be a yearly thing and we are back again this year. We hope this tournament grows bigger and better with each year.

Everything starts with a dream and having such a tournament was a dream and now we are walking that dream,” said Mashaba.

Zifa also revealed that it will be hosting a soccer stars event at the end of the season sponsored by Liquor Hub. The association is set to honour the 11 best players in the league.

The soccer star of the year will walk away with $300, while the second and third runners up will get $200 and $150 respectively. The golden boot winner and coach of the year will walk away $200 richer, with other soccer stars receiving $50 each. — @innocentskizoe.