Vusumuzi Dube
Tadious Manyepo, Zimpapers Sports Hub
Dynamos 1-1 Ngezi Platinum
(Dynamos win 4-2 on penalties)
DYNAMOS made history by becoming the first team to win the Chibuku Super Cup twice in a row when they floored Ngezi Platinum on penalties in a tense final at Rufaro yesterday.
The match had to go to the lottery after the teams could not be separated in 120 minutes of play.
The two were meeting for the second time on the trot after they faced off in last year’s final which the Glamour Boys won 2-0 at Baobab.
Looking to atone for that loss, the Mhondoro miners looked well on course with Obriel Chirinda’s sweet 23rd-minute volley putting Madamburo in firm control for the better part of the match.
But Ghanaian Frederick Ansah-Botchway pegged them back with 12 minutes on the clock to force extra-time.
With no winner at the end of a taxing 120 minutes, Dynamos had the calmest of nerves to win it.
They put away all four penalties with another one to spare as goalkeeper Martin Mapisa made two heroic saves.
With Dynamos captain Frank Makarati, Temptation Chiwunga, Eli Ilunga and Issah Sadiki all scoring, Mapisa tilted it in their favour as he stopped Moses Demera and Farai Madhanaga’s efforts.
It was the Lloyd Chigowe boys who had the last laugh picking the ticket to the Caf Confederations Cup for the second year running.
It was a painful defeat to Madamburo, not in a small way, after losing their fourth Chibuku Super Cup final in the past five seasons.
The 2016 winners have played the most finals in this tournament yet they have won just once.
That they led for most of the game only added to the pain as they still went on to lose as if a spell of some sort has been cast on them in this competition.
But their problems never mattered for the Harare giants who celebrated well into the evening.
They underlined their reputation for having a knack to draw late and pounce on penalties.
Dynamos beat Yadah on penalties after equalising late in the quarter-finals at Rufaro.
They followed that up with another lottery win over Manica Diamonds having drawn level moments before the final whistle at the same venue in the semis.
And yesterday, they looked down and out but still found a way back, collected themselves and pinned down this all-important win.
Yet Dynamos hardly deserved it judging by the way they were made to do most of the defending in the entire match plus the 30 minutes of extra time.
They started slowly and Mapisa was caught off his line with a super Chirinda lob.
It could have been Ngezi and Chirinda’s second goal but what was supposed to be the opener was ruled out for offside.
Then the guests had most of the ball and enjoyed a lot of territory as well. But the more they failed to get the assurance goal, the more they risked it and they were eventually made to pay.
As they defended deep, they drew many DeMbare bodies in their defensive third.
Then Emmanuel Paga rose to chest down a high ball and Ansah-Botchway rifled from the arch to beat the impressive Nelson Chadya for pace.
Chigowe hailed his charges for the win.
“It was a difficult game but in the end we managed to win. I am impressed and our thanks go to everyone including the fans,” said Chigowe.
“It is a sweet win for us and the institution. We always said that we wanted to win the Chibuku Super Cup and I am glad we managed to do that.”
His Ngezi Platinum Stars counterpart Takesure Chiragwi was naturally disappointed.
Teams
Dynamos: Martin Mapisa, Emmanuel Jalai, Nomore Chinyerere, Donald Dzvinyai, Frank Makarati, Fredrick Ansah-Botchway, Shadreck Nyahwa (Temptation Chiwunga 90th min), Tanaka Shandirwa (Freddy Alick), Sadney Uri-Khob (Eli Ilunga 90th min), Valentine Kadonzvo (Emmanuel Paga 39th min),Emmanuel Ziocha (Issah Sadiki 76min)
Ngezi Platinum: Nelson Chadya, Malvin Gaki (Tanaka Munemo 63rd min), Adams Ngwenya Farai Madhanaga 63min), Richard Hachiro, Obriel Chirinda (Elson Mweha 76th min), Polite Moyo, Talent Chamboko, Kudzai Chigwida, Takunda Benhura (Moses Demera 76min), Never Tigere (Tinotenda Meke 85th min), Gareth Madhake
