Bulawayo Chiefs drawn against Bantu Rovers
IT’S derby delight for all the Zifa Southern Region teams that will do battle in the inaugural John Landa Nkomo Liquor Hub Super 8 tournament after the draw was conducted in Bulawayo yesterday afternoon.
The Super 8 tournament, named after the late Vice President John Landa Nkomo is sponsored by businessman Raj Modi to the tune of $5 000, and is open to teams that finished in the top eight in the first half of the season.
Zimbabwe Republic Police owned clubs Black Boots and ZRP Bulawayo Province square off in the first quarter final match while Bulawayo Chiefs host Bantu Rovers in a local derby. Victoria Falls Tigers date debutants Amagagasi in the resort town while Technosphere meet fellow mining town club ZPC Hwange. All the matches will be played in the weekend of 27-28 August.
Eventual winners of the tourney will walk away with $1 500 while the losing finalists take home $800. Losing semi-finalists are guaranteed $400 each with all the teams that fail to make it past the quarter final stages pocketing $200 each.
The balance left over from the prize package will be used by the Zifa Southern Region league to pay for match officials, the police and hire stadia that will used for the tourney where necessary. The league bosses have also decided to charge a standard $1 for entry into stadia for the duration of the tournament.
Speaking after the draw Zifa vice-president Omega Sibanda hailed the Southern Region league for working hard to attract sponsorship in the hard economic conditions that have not spared football leagues across the country.
Nkomo family representative, Jabulani, who is the son of the late national hero, thanked the league and the sponsor for continuing his father’s legacy by naming the tourney after his name.
“As the Nkomo family we would like to thank you for continuing the legacy of our late father. Ubaba was always strict about sticking to rules and doing things the right way and I hope the tournament will run smoothly,” said Jabulani.
The sponsors — Liquor Hub — expressed interest in making the tournament an annual event.