Highlanders, Ngezi square off at BF in Chibuku semi

THE football gods could be smiling at Highlanders, who will play their Chibuku Super Cup semi-final match against Ngezi Platinum Stars at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday.

Because of broadcasting modalities, the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League has slated the semifinals for Barbourfields and Mandava Stadium in Zvishavane.

The league’s broadcasting partners SuperSport will beam both semi-finals live, starting with the Harare City and FC Platinum game at Mandava on Saturday before moving to Bulawayo the following day.

For Highlanders, who are in line for a league and cup double, this will be the third time to play before their home crowd in the Chibuku Super Cup.

Highlanders beat Mutare City Rovers 2-1 in the first round and went on to knock out How Mine in the quarter-finals.

Bosso were “away” against How Mine at Barbourfields in that quarter-final encounter, which ended 1-1 after regulation time, before Highlanders went on to win 4-3 on penalties to set a semi-final date with Ngezi Platinum.

Ngezi Platinum’s road to the semi-final saw them eliminating Hwange 3-1 in the first round before clobbering Tsholotsho FC 4-1 in the quarter-finals.

The platinum miners, who have lost twice to Highlanders this season, will be hoping for a change in fortunes to avoid going down for the third time.

Defending champions Harare City will be hoping to get the better of FC Platinum, who beat them 3-1 in the final of the 2014 edition.

City needed penalty shootouts in the quarterfinals against ZPC Kariba to book a place in the last four, while FC Platinum cruised to a 1-0 victory over Triangle United at Gibbo Stadium.

City beat ZPC Kariba 4-2 on penalties after the match had ended 2-2 to book a place in the semifinals.