By Courage Nyaya
NESBERT “Yabo” Saruchera is hopeful that Cranborne Bullets will progress to the group stages of the Chibuku Super Cup after their clash with WhaWha in a preliminary round tie at Mandava in Zvishavane tomorrow.
Four teams are playing in the preliminary round fighting for two slots into the first round of the country’s biggest cup competition.
The other match pits ZPC Kariba and Bulawayo City at the same venue tomorrow.
Saruchera conceded that they face a tricky match against the Gweru-based side.
“The match is very crucial and we are just thinking about progressing to the first round of the tournament. We are ready but it’s not an easy game and we also what to use the tournament to assess some of our players who have not been playing that much, so that everyone participates before the closure of the season,” Saruchera told NewsDay Sport.
The army side made their debut appearance in the Chibuku Cup last season where they played well to reach the semi-finals where they were eliminated by Ngezi Platinum Stars at the National Sports Stadium following a 1-nil loss courtesy of a Bruno Mtigo’s goal.
Bullets have had their struggles in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League and they hope they can use the competition to regain their form.
WhaWha, likewise, have been struggling in the league where they sit at the bottom and they will be hoping to return to winning ways.
The prison wardens are more familiar with Mandava Stadium where they played six matches in the group matches of the Chibuku Super Cup tournament last year.
Whoever wins tomorrow’s matches faces a tough contest in the next round with Dynamos eagerly waiting.
Preliminary round fixtures
Cranborne Bullets vs WhaWha
ZPC Kariba vs Bulawayo City
First round draw: Chicken Inn vs Harare City, FC Platinum vs Tenax, Dynamos vs Cranborne/WhaWha, Manica Diamonds vs Yadah, Triangle United vs Highlanders, Black Rhinos vs CAPS United, Ngezi Platinum Stars vs Herentals, Bulawayo Chiefs vs ZPC Kariba/Bulawayo City
