Days of the Champions League Breakfast on PowerFM ...

Days of the Champions League Breakfast on PowerFM over as host Pathisani drops the fork

powerfmzimbabwe on Twitter: "Good Morning from your favourite duo. What do you have to say to this duo? Join Tinashe Chikuse and Phathisani Sibanda for the Champions League Breakfast every weekday 6am-9am — Tinashe Chikuse (L) and Pathisani Sibanda (R)

Gilbert Munetsi

It appears the days of the popular radio show Champions League Breakfast on ZBC’s PowerFM are over following reports that one of the co-presenters, Pathisani Sibanda, has tendered his resignation.

The daily show had become a must-listen for many as Sibanda and his Shumba totem-sake, Tinashe Chikuse, ably hosted the 6am-9am shift.

Reports say Sibanda visited his past employer in the company of seven lawyers with an aim to engage management on the matter of his and Chikuse’s suspension. The legal team was led by renowned labour attorney Caleb Mucheche.

Sources told Zim Now Sibanda opted to leave employment under Section 12B (3) of the Zimbabwe Labour Act, Chapter 28:01 which reads: “An employee is deemed to have been unfairly dismissed— (a) if the employee terminated the contract of employment with or without notice because the employer deliberately made continued employment intolerable for the employee.”

A morning cap for listeners of varying age groups, Sibanda and Chikuse's radio programme was laden with humour, and provided news and sports updates, quizzes, discussion, phone-ins and music.

So popular had the Sibanda-Chikuse combination become that following their suspension in November, listeners took to social media platforms to express their displeasure. They argued the alternative show, Morning Drive, that features comedian Nijo, and co-hosts Rachel and Rugare was no match to their usual daily dosage of radio fun courtesy of the suspended duo. It has not been made public why Sibanda and Chikuse were suspended in the first place.

Sibanda, who rose to fame for his combination with Kuda Violet Gonde (KVG) back in the day made a surprise switch to PowerFM, and so good was he partnering with Chikuse that the two established themselves as the best radio combination of all time. They equalled or even surpassed yesteryear combinations such as that of Bridget Gavanga-Dr Zobha and the Mark Pozo-Simon Parkinson. They were also able to bring on board a number of commercial entities who were eager to identify with their Champions League Breakfast brand