THE Premier Soccer League (PSL) has released the fixtures of the Chibuku Super Cup as football finally returns to our local stadiums this weekend with some bumper matches in Harare, Bulawayo, Mutare and Zvishavane.
The pick of the fixtures will see a battle of the “Platinums.” Champions FC and Ngezi Stars will play each at Mandava on matchday three in what promises to be a thrilling contest as both teams have done some good business during the offseason using their large purses to good effect.
Things hot up in the Chibuku Super Cup when the first edition of the most famous Harare derby between CAPS United and Dynamos roars into life on matchday four. Both teams will seek to have the bragging rights early on in the season as they try and appease their football starved fans, and no better way to do it than getting one over the old enemy.
It is these games between the two city rivals that really send signals to football fans across the country and those in the diaspora who will be following the proceedings via the ZTN online platforms that football is indeed back after an 18- month hiatus.
On matchday one, Bulawayo City will get the ball rolling on Saturday at 11 am when they play Chicken Inn at Barbourfields and in Zvishavane at Mandava Stadium, newly promoted Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service team, Whawha will take on the PSL defending champions FC Platinum at 1 pm.
The former Cup kings, CAPS United, will get Group 1 rolling as they take on Yadah at the National Sports Stadium at 3 pm and at the same time in Sakubva, new boys Tenax will take on army side Black Rhinos.
On Sunday, five fixtures are lined up across the country at the same venues, Ngezi Platinum Stars wrestle it out with Triangle at 11 am former Chibuku Super Cup winners Harare City host ZPC Kariba at the National Sports Stadium at 11 am.
Bulawayo Chiefs lock horns with the Chibuku Super Cup 2019 champions, Highlanders at Barbourfields, and the last two fixtures for the weekend will see The Students, Herentals take on Dynamos at National Sports Stadium, and Manica Diamonds will look to get points on board as they take on Cranborne Bullets.
The Chibuku Super Cup matches will be played in a round-robin format with the 18 PSL clubs in four groups based in four different cities as the project to restart football in the country gathers momentum in these Covid-19 times.
