Highlanders meet Dynamos again in final
By Roy Matiki
THE stage is now set for the Zaoga Golden Jubilee Charity Shield final pitting the country’s oldest teams — Dynamos and Highlanders — at Rufaro on Sunday. The explosive final comes hardly four days after the BancABC Sup8r semi-final replay slated for the National Sports Stadium was cancelled after Dynamos did not turn up.
Sunday’s match will be the second time DeMbare and Bosso are meeting in a final this season. They met in the Independence Cup in April and Dynamos were 2-0 victors. Tournament co-ordinator Wilson Mutekede said the final comes amid the background of current good form by both teams.
Mutekede said Sunday’s game would be a different ball game despite the fact that Dynamos have dominated Highlanders this season. “A look at Dynamos, you can see that they are on a roll and I have watched their matches. They always grind out victories even if they are not in form.
“Players like Murape Murape, Washing-ton Arubi, Wonder Sithole, Desmond Mari-ngwa, Benjamin Marere and Ashley Rambanapasi have the capacity to carry the day for the Harare giants.” Mutekede also said Bosso had struck a right vein of form.
“Highlanders are also playing well and in the past four games they have registered good wins. Bosso have some good players like Gift Lunga, Zephaniah Ngodzo and Menard Mupera who has been scoring goals. Both teams have a rich history and I believe the prize money will be a motivating factor for both teams.
“We hope the match will be played in the true football spirit and the two teams will exhibit true sportsmanship,” said Mutekede. He urged clubs to guard jealously the sponsorship. The former CAPS United team manager hailed Bosso for taking a stance by having zero tolerance on hooliganism.
He also saluted the Dynamos fans saying they had matured with time. The winner on Sunday is set to pocket US$35 000 with the loser taking home US$15 000. Losing semi-finalists will receive US$5 000 each.
Some of the beneficiaries of the Zaoga Golden Jubilee Charity Shield are orphanages in Mutare and Mutoko, Blind Ministries and Single Women Ministries. Dynamos, Highlanders, Gunners and CAPS United were chosen on the strength of last year’s final log standings.
Dynamos walloped Gunners 4-1 in the semi-final at Rufaro with Highlanders dismissing CAPS United 3-2 after a penalty shoot-out, having drawn 0-0 in regulation time. Herbert Nyakonda, the spokesperson of the Zaoga Church, said they are happy with their inaugural final.
“We urge soccer fans to shun violence on Sunday and make it a family outing because hooliganism drives sponsors away. “The final was originally set for the National Sports Stadium, but we have since shifted it to a central venue.
“Gate charges are US$3 for the rest of the ground, US$5 for Western Stand and US$20 for the VVIP enclosure. Only the media will use PSL accreditation cards. Officials will be given complimentary tickets. Before the main game, there will be a final pitting Zaoga Youth and teams that will clash are Seke 1 and Zvishavane,” Nyakonda said.
