By ELIAS CHIPEPO –
THE 2014 David Abel Ray Phiri (DARP) International Rugby Challenge gets underway at the Lusaka Rugby Club today and will see 16 teams battling it out in the two-day richest cup competition on the Zambia Rugby Union (ZRU) calendar.
With defending champions Old Hararians not making the trip to Lusaka, Red Arrows, who are also the Zambian champions, are favourites to land their hands on the top prize and win their fifth title of the season.
But Arrows will face stiff opposition from ‘Men At Work’ Diggers, who have won three titles, hosts ‘Powerhouse’ Lusaka, who are also the Nchanga 10’s winners, and this season surprise package and league leaders Nkwazi.
Winners of the Owen Busange Cup will walk away with K11, 000, which is the highest prize money so far this season, with the runners up K7, 000 while the Mwango Katema Player-of-the-tournament will pocket K2, 000.
The Kapasa Bwalya Plate winner will pocket K3, 000 in the tournament that will see other attract prizes on offers.
Arrows are in Pool A along with Chibuluma, Police Defenders of Zimbabwe, Prisons while Pool B has Diggers, Green Buffaloes, Dar-es-Salaam Leopards and Mufulira and the top two will advance to the next stage.
Pool C has Nkwazi, Harare Sports, Kitwe Playing Fields and Lusaka B with the hosts pitted in Pool D with Green Eagles, ‘Killer Bees’ Ndola Wanderers and Nchanga.
From Pool A, Arrows and Zimbabwean side Defenders are favourites to qualify from the group as Chibuluma and Prisons do not seem to be strong enough to stop the two sides.
Diggers is in a seemingly tough group especially that nothing much is known of Leopards while Buffaloes have been known to be spoilers in such competition but the Kitwe side should win the group with the battle for second left between the army side and Leopards.
Pool C looks to be open with any of the four side capable of advancing to the next stage while Lusaka should have no difficulties negotiating their way past Eagles, Ndola and Nchanga with the Kabwe side likely to follow suit.
Meanwhile, organising committee secretary Cecilia Tresha said gates will open at 12:00 hours and that gate charges have been pegged at K20 adding that fans will be, apart from watching exciting rugby, be entertained to lots of entertainment.  Snacks and drinks will be available on sale.