IT took Triangle Football Club 41 years since their formation in 1972 for the Lowveld-based side to play in the country’s top league.
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In their first year in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League last year after emerging champions in the Zifa Eastern Region Division One in 2012, Triangle were drawn against Bulawayo giants Highlanders in the first major cup tournament in the first round of the Mbada Diamonds Cup and lost 2-3 at Barbourfields Stadium in September.
This year, Triangle has made it to the final of the NetOne-sponsored One Wallet Cup in which they will clash with giants Dynamos.
This weekend they will lock horns with Black Rhinos in the quarter-final of Chibuku Super Cup as they eye another final berth. Club chairman Lovemore Matikinyidze yesterday said they have not set any targets in particular for the cup tournament, but competing in both competitions showed they were a capable side.
“It’s good that we are in both competitions and it shows that we are very capable and measuring up to the standards. I have confidence that we can withstand the pressure. But the competition has been tough in the league this time around. We need to work very hard to survive. I am very confident that we will survive with support that we have from fans, our sponsors and a capable technical team,” Matikinyidze said.
However, goalkeepers’ coach Gift “Umbro” Muzadzi who attended the draw in Harare on Tuesday, said although they were not aiming too high in the Chibuku Super Cup they were hoping to reach the final of the tournament.
“We won’t be aiming too high, but we are here to compete and our aim is to reach the next stage and if possible play until the last game of the tournament,” Muzadzi said.
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It is not looking too good for Triangle in the league. They are on position 11 on the log table with 27 points and in the relegation zone but reaching the final of two cup tournaments will definitely be a plus for coach Biggie Zuze.
There is still the Mbada Diamonds Cup to play for. Interestingly for the Lowveld-based outfit, they have been winning their cup ties through penalty shoot-outs.
In the quarter-final of the One Wallet Cup, Triangle booked a place in the semi-final of the tournament after beating Harare City 7-6 in sudden death shoot-out at Mandava Stadium after a 1-1 deadlock in regulation time on July 18.
They returned to Mandava on August 30 and beat Chicken Inn 5-3 in another penalty lottery after a goalless stalemate in 90 minutes in the semi-final and will clash with Dynamos who dispatched How Mine 2-0 in another semi-final the following day.
Triangle went to the Colliery on August 17 and beat Hwange 4-3 in another penalty shoot-out after a 0-0 deadlock to reach the quarter-finals of the Chibuku Super Cup in which they date Black Rhinos at the weekend.
Their rivals in the Chibuku Super Cup, Black Rhinos are beaming with confidence after edging giants Dynamos 1-0 in first round of the tournament on August 17 at Gwanzura Stadium under the guidance of new coach Jostein Mathuthu.
