BancABC Sup8r Cup ready for launch

The BancABC Sup8r Cup is back on the country's annual soccer calendar and is set to be launched in Harare on Tuesday.

The bank's managing director, Hashford Matemera, hinted at the return of the Top Eight cup a fortnight ago and the organisers of the knock-out tournament went further at the weekend by issuing invitations to the launch of the lucrative competition.

The sources confirmed that this year's tournament will be bigger as a number of the bank's strategic partners would also team up with BancABC to make the Sup8r Cup one of the biggest knockout tournaments in recent years.

"Barring any unforeseen changes, the BancABC will be launched in the capital on Tuesday.

"This year's tournament will be bigger in terms of sponsorship but the teams participating will remain those that finished in the top eight.

"A number of BancABC's strategic partners in the corporate world will also chip in and make this year's tournament a grand one," said the source.

The participating teams in this year's tournament are Dynamos, Highlanders, Chicken Inn, Monomotapa, Shabanie, Buffaloes, FC Platinum and Motor Action. Notable absentees in this year's tournament are Harare giants, Caps United who struggled for form last year when they could only finish 10th.

But an insider said teams that finished in the top eight in 2011, including Caps United, and were eligible for last year's Sup8r tournament which was not held, will each receive a token from the sponsors.

Motor Action are the holders of the BancABC Sup8r Cup after beating Highlanders in the 2011 final and pocketed US$40 000.