BancABC Sup8r semi-final draw, Bosso takes on Shabanie

In the BancABC Sup8r Cup semi-final draw held in Bulawayo yesterday, Highlanders are set to take on Shabanie while their arch rivals and defending champions Dynamos will face Motor Action.
 
During the quarter-finals stages Dynamos beat Hwange 2-1 in Triangle at Gibbo Stadium on July 9 to reach the semi-finals with goals from Tawanda Muparati and Rodrick Mutuma. Gilbert Zulu scored for Hwange.

Highlanders qualified after edging CAPS United 1-0 at Baghdad Stadium in Kwekwe on June 26 to advance to the last four with Skipper Gilbert Banda scoring the all important goal.

Shabanie Mine beat Gunners 1-0 in the other quarter final at Ascot Stadium on June 25 with the solitary goal coming from Lennon Chisunga.

Motor Action narrowly beat Monomotapa 2-1 on July 10 at Sakubva Stadium in Mutare to book their place in the semis with Masimba Mambare and Themba Ndlovu scoring for the Mighty Bulls and Makai Kawashu responding for Monoz.

BancABC Sup8r is the country's richest knock-out tournament, the winners of this year's tournament will be US$20,000 less richer than the team that wins this season's Premier League, bankrolled by Delta Beverages.

Last year's total sponsorship package was US$200,000. Winners of this year's tournament will pocket $50,000, up from the US$40,000 won by Dynamos after they beat CAPS United 3-2 in last year's final.

At the beginning of the tournament there were eight teams namely the defending PSL champions Motor Action, former winners Dynamos, Bulawayo giants Highlanders, Gunners, Hwange, Caps United, Monomotapa and Shabanie Mine will battle-it-out for honours in the prestigious tournament.

The Knock Out Cup kicked off on June 25 with action at four venues, including Mutare, Kwekwe and Chiredzi for the quarter-final matches.

During that time, PSL chief executive officer, Kennedy Ndebele said "It is our hope that the spreading of top flight football out of the major cities will spur interest in the game. We are confident that young players in these smaller cities and towns will be motivated by watching their role models in action".

The 2011 sponsorship deal includes kit, accommodation, transport and individual player awards for man-of-the-match, player of the tournament, top goal scorer and most disciplined.

The sponsors of the showdown, BancABC, set aside U$1 900 for individual prizes which include the golden boot award ($500), player of the tournament voted by media accredited for the event ($500), goalkeeper of the tournament- which will be awarded to the goal-minder who will concede the least number of goals in the tournament ($400).

The most disciplined team of the tournament will also be honoured; the award will go to the teams that concede the least cautions and expulsions. For every caution five points will be awarded to the team and 10 points for the red card. A club whose players, officials and supporters are judged the most disciplined team by virtue of having the least number of points in the tournament shall receive a branded training kit.

The man of the match for every match of the competition will receive $200 while the outstanding player in the finals walks away $300 richer. The final match of the tournament will be played on August 27 at a venue to be announced.