Highlanders for Msipa charity

Sport
HIGHLANDERS will take part in the second edition of the Cephas George Msipa Scholarship Trust Charity football tournament set for February.

HIGHLANDERS will take part in the second edition of the Cephas George Msipa Scholarship Trust Charity football tournament set for the second weekend of February. MUKUDZEI CHINGWERE SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

FC Platinum and Shabanie Mine took part in the inaugural tournament last year, but this year’s event has been extended to four teams with Chapungu joining Highlanders.

Highlanders will play Premier Soccer League (PSL) returnées Chapungu at Ascot stadium on February 8 with the Zvishavane derby being hosted at Mandava Stadium on the same day. The winners of both matches will meet in the final at Mandava the following day.

FC Platinum club president George Mawere, part of the organising team, confirmed the latest developments.

“We have set the dates for February 8 and 9. We as FC Platinum are the organisers of the tournament, but the tournament is a brain child of Msipa and he is negotiating with sponsors.

“As tournament organisers we wanted a draw to be conducted on fixtures, but we were told the final needs to be staged in Zvishavane hence the need to have a team from Zvishavane in the final,” he said.

The platinum miners’ president assured football stakeholders that the dates are now final and there will be no adjustments or change of venues.

“Msipa is finalising with sponsors, but even if nothing comes out of those negotiations the tournament will go on. The tournament started as a provincial one, but now it’s national, that’s why we have invited Highlanders.

“The proceeds will go to charity, but if sponsors come in they will cover the expenses of the participating teams,” Mawere said.

FC Platinum are the reigning champions following last year’s brace by Warriors midfielder Ali Sadiki which ensured the platinum miners cruised to a comfortable 2-0 win over Shabanie Mine.

PSL returnées Chapungu will get a chance to taste the waters of PSL football when they take part in the invitational tournament.