Dynamos and Highlanders, two of the country’s most successful and widely supported football clubs, will not participate in the 2025 Uhuru Cup.
This comes after the government’s announcement on Tuesday that the event will feature FC Platinum and Simba Bhora instead.
In past editions, Dynamos and Highlanders have been a major draw during the Independence Day celebrations.
However, this year, reigning Premier Soccer League champions Simba Bhora and runners-up FC Platinum will face off in the prestigious invitational competition, set for April 18 at Nembudziya Grounds in Gokwe.
For the first time in its 44-year history, the Uhuru Cup will be hosted in the Midlands Province.
Football action kicks off on April 17 with the Women’s Premier Soccer League defending champions, Herentals Queens, taking on Black Rhinos, who finished second in the league last season, at the Children’s Party.
In a Post Cabinet Media Briefing in Harare this Tuesday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Jenfan Muswere, said:
<blockquote>
Simba Bhora and FC Platinum football clubs will entertain the crowds during the main Independence Day anniversary celebrations, while Herentals Queens and Black Rhinos Football Clubs will play as the first and second-placed teams in the Premier League during the 2025 Children’s Party celebrations.
</blockquote>
Dynamos won the Independence Cup title, defeating Highlanders 1-0 in the 2024 final at Uhera Stadium, located at Murambinda B High School in Buhera, Manicaland Province.

Pindula News

Dynamos and Highlanders won't play in Uhuru Cup this year, FC Platinum and Simba Bhora will. The match is on April 18 in Gokwe, Midlands Province. In the Women’s Premier Soccer League, Herentals Queens and Black Rhinos will also play. The Independence Cup last year was won by Dynamos. This year, the Uhuru Cup will see new teams facing off in the tournament.

Simba Bhora, FC Platinum Set For Uhuru Cup Clash In Gokwe

Murambinda High School football pitch, which is set to host the 44th Uhuru Cup featuring Dynamos and Highlanders on Independence Day, is almost ready for the event, an official has said.
Manica Diamonds will take on Simba Bhora on 17 April at Murambinda A Primary School Ground, with the Battle of Zimbabwe taking place the following day, at the main venue.
<a href="https://www.hmetro.co.zw/uhuru-cup-final-venue-almost-ready/">H-Metro</a> reported Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) coordinator for Manicaland Province, Shupikai Berejena, as saying construction work at the football ground is well ahead of schedule. Said Berejena:
<blockquote>
We are well ahead of schedule in terms of the construction work of the stadium, which is the venue of the 44th Uhuru Cup.
The installation of goalposts, markings and dugouts is expected to be completed today (yesterday) as well as well as the trimming of the turf.
We are looking forward to completing the terracing of the stadium on Saturday.
The inside plastering of the changing rooms, ceilings and tubing is currently ongoing and we expect all the required furniture to be in.
We have no doubt that we will meet the set standards for this high-profile match.
We will have Manica Diamonds and Simba Bhora clashing at Murambinda A Primary School Ground on the eve of the Independence Day celebrations, as part of the President’s Children’s Party.
</blockquote>
The 2023 Uhuru Cup also featured Dynamos versus Highlanders and was played at Pfura Sports Stadium in Mt Darwin, Mashonaland Central Province.
Last year, the winner, Bosso, walked away with a US$35,000 winner’s cheque while the losing team DeMbare got US$25,000.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Uhuru Cup Final Venue Almost Ready - SRC

Highlanders are the Independence Day Cup winners for the second successive time after beating Dynamos 5-3 on penalties at Mt Darwin High School on 18 April.
The country’s two biggest football clubs took their rivalry away from Harare and Bulawayo to Mashonaland Central Province as part of the main 43rd Independence Day anniversary celebrations.
Yesterday, Highlanders were forced to play one man down for long periods, after Andrew Mbeba was sent off for a crude tackle on Nyasha Chintuli, in the 33rd minute.
The match ended 0-0 and had to be settled through a penalty shootout.
The Glamour Boys’ Emmanuel Paga, who failed to find the back of the net with only the goalkeeper in his sight in the 85th minute, had his penalty saved by Ariel Sibanda in the shootout.
Highlanders coach Baltemar Brito said his boys deserved the win after keeping Dynamos at bay with 10 men. He said:
<blockquote>
I’m happy to have finally won my first silverware in the country, it means a lot for the entire technical team and the fans who travelled all the way from Bulawayo. The boys played well
Mbeba made a mistake and his teammates accepted it and fought for the club to win this trophy.
I’m happy with how we managed the game. The boys were just confident and I think they deserve it.
</blockquote>
DeMbare coach Herbert Maruwa bemoaned his strikers’ failure to convert the chances they created. He said:
<blockquote>
We did well in all the departments but our strikers let us down.
They missed a lot of chances and in football, you can only win by scoring goals and that’s what we failed to do.
But, overall, I’m happy with how the boys played, it’s only the final third where we need to be more ruthless.
</blockquote>
Highlanders beat Dynamos 1-0 in the Independence Day Cup final last year, through a goal by Stanley Ngala.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Highlanders Beat Dynamos On Penalties To Lift Uhuru Cup

Highlanders coach Baltemar Brito has claimed that the decision to cancel the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) tie against Dynamos at short notice was meant to protect Dynamos who have failed to score in the last two matches.
Earlier this week, the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) ordered the PSL to cancel the match that was pencilled for this Saturday to allow the two clubs to participate in the Independence Day Trophy final.
The Independence Day Trophy final will be played at Pfura Stadium in Mount Darwin in Mashonaland Central province on Tuesday next week.
Speaking to <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/sport/article/200010144/bosso-cry-foul">NewsDay</a> on Thursday, Brito said Dynamos had less time to prepare for the league match after playing the last match on Easter Monday while Bosso had played theirs three days earlier (on Good Friday).
It is therefore Brito’s view that the “The Battle of Zimbabwe” was cancelled to protect Dynamos who have also experienced a couple of injuries. Said Brito:
<blockquote>
About the cancellation of the game, we cannot run way from this subject because; no hard feelings, but this decision was only to protect Dynamos because they are coming from two draws.
They had some players who were not having good moments at all; they have some injuries.
Add to that they had to travel to Bulawayo for that game after playing on Monday, so the week of preparation wasn’t going to be the best for them.
Everyone knows that the decision was not to protect football but to protect Dynamos from this game.
Right now we need to respect that decision and the next game is against them (Dynamos) in a cup match.
But they are staying in Harare, they are fresh; we need to travel.
The cancellation of the league game three days before means that in our week of preparation, there have to be a lot of changes.
Our plan was to play on Saturday and now everything is different.
Again our next game (in the league) is against Yadah, we don’t know whether Friday or Saturday.
We don’t know if we will have to come back to Bulawayo (after the cup final on Tuesday) or if we stay there.
So in terms of preparations, we just hope the football authorities have the same way for both teams because to come back and travel to Harare is not fair.
If one team is protected, the other should be protected as well.
</blockquote>
Highlanders said they will field their best team in the Independence Trophy final while Dynamos have four players ruled out due to injuries.
Denver Mukamba, captain Frank Makarati, Donald Mudadi, and reserve goalkeeper Prince Tafiremutsa will not make the trip to Mt Darwin.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Uhuru Cup: Government Favours Dynamos, Claims Highlanders Coach

Exiled former Cabinet Minister, Professor Jonathan Moy has recommended the cancellation of Zimbabwe’s Independence bash that is scheduled for the 18th of April at Barbourfields in Bulawayo.
Moyo cites the novel coronavirus as the reason why Zimbabwe should cancel the event. Posting on Twitter this Saturday, Moyo said:
<blockquote>If it’s right for <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23CAF" rel="hashtag noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#CAF</a> to postpone <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Warriors" rel="hashtag noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Warriors</a> Afcon games to prevent spread of <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23CoronaVirus" rel="hashtag noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#CoronaVirus</a> &amp; save lives, it must be right to cancel Zim@40 Uhuru bash at BF Stadium in Byo on 18 April to save lives. 
SOCIAL DISTANCING IS KEY!</blockquote>
His remarks come after the Confederation of African Football <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/just-in-caf-postpones-afcon-qualifier-matches-due-to-coronavirus/">(CAF) had announced the postponement of the Women’s 2020 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers that were slated for the first week of April and the Men’s 2021 AFCON qualifiers</a> that were scheduled to be played at the end of this month.
Moyo also speaks after the World Health Organisation country representative, <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/who-speaks-on-reports-suggesting-zimbabwe-is-covering-up-coronavirus-cases/">Dr Gasasira has also recommended that gatherings are limited as much as possible </a>urging those with symptoms to self-isolate and visit stipulated health facilities.
More: <a href="https://twitter.com/ProfJNMoyo/status/1238696799826780162">Jonathan Moyo</a>

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