The ZIFA Unity Cup previously slated for Rufaro stadium has been cancelled.
The reason cited is the burial of national hero Aguy Georgias at the National Heroes Acre.
The game had always been doomed since the day Highlanders snubbed ZIFA’s late request for them to play Dynamos in the encounter originally set for today that was to coincide with National Unity Day commemorations.
After Highlanders insisted that their 2015 season had been over and that they had sent their players on holiday, ZIFA then turned to CAPS United who were readily available to rekindle their rivalry with Dynamos and were busy at training yesterday in readiness for the showdown.
While CAPS United, who had wanted to also use the game to give a run to returning players — Method Mwanjali, big goalkeeper Edmore Sibanda, defender Dennis Dauda and Simba Nhivi — were busy at training, the match was called off.
In a brief statement, ZIFA president Philip Chiyangwa said they had called off the game as it coincided with the burial of Georgias.
“The Zimbabwe Football Association would like to inform the football fraternity and the nation of the cancellation of the 2015 ZIFA Unity Cup.
“The cancellation has been compelled by the burial of the national hero Cde Aguy Georgias at the National Heroes acre tomorrow (today).
“ZIFA remains grateful to Dynamos, CAPS United and Bulawayo City who had agreed to participate,” read the statement.
ZIFA also joined the nation in mourning the former Deputy Minister of Local Government, Public Woks and National Housing.
“Meanwhile, the association joins the nation in mourning Cde Aguy Georgias. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Georgias family in this time of grief and we encourage them to seek comfort and solace in the almighty. May his soul rest in eternal peace,” read the statement.
Initially, Dynamos and Highlanders were scheduled to play in the match which is part of the National Unity Day commemorations at Barboufields but the Bulawayo giants turned down the proposal.
Highlanders had earlier also snubbed the Joshua Nkomo Legacy Cup citing that their players are already off season and they had not planned for the match.
With Bosso adamant and ZIFA truing to have the match played, CAPS United were then roped in on Sunday and had immediately geared themselves to play.
However, it is the manner in which the Cup was organised that always had problems from the start as the mother body left it until late to arrange the cup game.