THE mighty have fallen, and never has the thud felt quite so hard.
Dynamos, twice winners of the Chibuku Super Cup, yesterday faced the ultimate humiliation of being drawn to start their beloved trophy defence from the very bottom, in the preliminary rounds, simply because their league form has plummeted to an abysmal low.
This was not just a Cup draw.
It was a public reckoning for a club synonymous with glory, now teetering on the brink of an unthinkable relegation.
But amid the league agony, could this Chibuku Super Cup become their last, desperate lifeline?
Imagine the defending champions, the two-time kings, forced to rub shoulders with the minnows, just to get a foot in the door.
That is the stark reality for DeMbare.
Their dire league performance, seeing them sink into the bottom four by mid-season, means they must now navigate a tricky preliminary hurdle against Yadah.
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But if club chairman Moses Maunganidze is feeling the heat, he is certainly not showing it.
With a steely gaze that defies his club’s current turmoil, he declared that his team is ready to defend the Cup.
Asked to give his thoughts on the draw, he responded: “Typical of a draw, you never play what you want, but we are ready to play Yadah come August 6 in Norton.”
He added, almost prophetically: “If we go past Yadah, obviously, as you are aware, we are going to play Simba Bhora. So we are ready for the two draws . . . we are hopeful that as the cup holders, twice in a row, we are looking forward to doing very well.”
Starting from the preliminary round means more games for Dynamos in this year’s edition, more wear and tear, and more pressure on a squad already very low on confidence.
Yet, Maunganidze spun it with a defiant twist.
“Playing from the preliminary round actually gives us a better platform to prepare ourselves . . . So we are ready . . . we are ready for that.”
Ready, or simply desperate? The league table does not lie.
Dynamos are battling relegation, staring down the barrel of an unthinkable drop.
The Chibuku Super Cup is not just a bonus this year, it is the only chance to salvage pride, to give their long-suffering fans something to cheer about.
But Maunganidze remained cool under pressure, almost dismissive of suggestions from the journalists that his team would be desperate to win the competition to salvage their season.
“It’s those teams that will play against us who feel the pressure, not Dynamos,” he scoffed.
“Remember, we are champions, twice in a row, and those are going to play against champions.
“So, the pressure is on them, not on us.”
A bold claim, indeed, considering their current form.
Beyond Dynamos’ make-or-break journey, the Chibuku Super Cup draw promises fireworks.
Ngezi Platinum Stars, heartbreakingly runners-up in the last two editions, will be hungry to move one step better, starting against the winner of Triangle versus Kwekwe United, who meet in the other preliminary round clash.
Caps United face a tough test against MWOS at Ngoni Stadium, while Highlanders face an unpredictable Herentals in Harare.
The venue for that clash --- and Scottland versus Green Fuel --- will be confirmed in due course as Rufaro Stadium could be tied up with Heroes Day celebrations.
Premier Soccer League acting chief executive officer Rodwell Thabe issued a stern warning, reminding clubs to adhere to the competition’s rules and regulations after last season’s Chibuku Super Cup game between Highlanders versus Simba Bhora was abandoned, and two league matches have already gone rogue this term.
Delta Beverages marketing director Irimayi Muzorewa, representing the sponsors, said they look forward to highly competitive matches.
The total purse for this year’s tournament is US$375 000, with winner pocketing US$75 000 and a ticket to represent Zimbabwe at the next CAF Confederation Cup, while runners-up will get US$50 000.
Chibuku Super Cup draw
Preliminary round:
August 6: Yadah v Dynamos (Ngoni)
August 7: Triangle v Kwekwe (Mandava)
First Round: (August 9-10)
Simba Bhora v Yadah/Dynamos (Wadzanayi)
MWOS v Caps Utd (Ngoni)
Scottland v Green Fuel (TBA)
TelOne v Bikita Minerals (Ascot)
FC Platinum v Manica Diamonds (Mandava)
Ngezi Platinum Stars v Triangle /Kwekwe Utd (Baobab)
ZPC Kariba v Chicken Inn (Nyamhunga)
Herentals v Highlanders (TBA).
