The eyes of the football-loving pubic will be firmly on Chahwanda Stadium in Kwekwe, where Premiership debutants Hardrock welcome defending champions Scottland in what should be potentially explosive Castle Lager Premier Soccer League clash.
Kick off time is 15:00.
The two sides, arguably the most funded teams in the country’s top-flight league as evidenced by their massive player recruitment which has seen both attracting players from across the African continent, will likely serve a thriller if the match lives up to its billing.
Hardrock, owned by Kwekwe-based gold mogul Shepherd ‘Magodora’ Chahwanda, won the Central Region Soccer League last year at the expense of Sheasham.
They managed to lure Kelvin Kaindu to be their head coach, after the Zambian mentor somewhat miraculously saved Harare giants Dynamos from relegation last season.
The Golden Boys’ pre-season recruitment saw Donald Mudadi, Junior Makunike, Nigel Matinha, Martin Mapisa, Tonderai Mateyaunga, Munashe Bamara, just to mention a few, moving to the ambitious Kwekwe-based side.
Chahwanda also splashed a reported US$10 million in the construction of Chahwanda Stadium – a 15 000-seater stadium which is the first of its kind in Zimbabwe.
The sleek facility has been inspected by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), over the possibility of hosting international football.
Scottland on the other hand, after winning the title in their debut season last year, managed to lure legendary former Warriors captains Norman Mapeza and Peter Ndlovu, to be head coach and team manager respectively.
Another Warriors captain Knowledge Musona, leads a star-studded squad which includes his brother Walter, former Kaizer Chiefs star Khama Billiat, former SuperSport and Orlando Pirates forward Terrence Dzvukamanja, highly-rated midfield ace Abubakar Moffat, former Simba Bhora midfielder Emmanuel Ziocha, among others.
The Scotts will be oozing with confidence heading into the eagerly anticipated fixture, having massacred out of sorts Dynamos 5-0 in the Castle Challenge Cup last week.
Backed financially by gold mogul and Mabvuku legislator Pedzai ‘Scott’ Sakupwanya, Scottland have raised the bar in terms standards in local football but in Hardrock, they have massive competition, both this afternoon and beyond.
