By Mtulisi Mafa in Bulawayo
Highlanders …………………………………….0
Motor Action …………………………………(1) 1
Motor Action continued their silverware haul when an Allan Gahadzikwa header ensured that the league champions were crowned the BancABC Sup8r champions at Barbourfields yesterday.
- In this picture Motor Action celebrate winning the title last season
Highlanders coach Mkhuphali Masuku, in bullish mood at the Press conference on the eve of a well-attended and colourful final, had said that the trophy was too heavy to carry back to the capital and it was going to remain in the City of Kings.
But the champions left the young coach with egg on the face, proving their mighty status had enough power to carry the imposing trophy to their Eastlea headquarters in the capital. It was the Bulls’ third victory over Highlanders this season, after completing a double over the former champions in the league.
One could tell how much this success meant to Eric and Liz Rosen, who are finally reaping rich rewards from their cherished investment. They could hardly contain their joy. The match hardly resembled a cup final in the early stages, with both sides conspiring to play an awful kick-and-run brand of football, but in the midst of this hogwash, the Mighty Bulls found a way to the opener.
Motor Action took the lead against the run of play when Conrad Whitby delivered a precise cross and Gahadzikwa powered in a header much to the delight of a suspiciously Dynamos crowd that swapped their blue shirts for the red one.
A fine goal really, but the champions ought to be pampering midfielder Whitby, named man of the match here yesterday, with all manner of gifts for a classy delivery. The duel came to life after the goal with the home side showing some conviction going forward. Bosso kept their artillery on the hunt, but striker Vincent Nzombe flashed his effort wide from close range seven minutes from the break.
The home side kept their noses sniffing around their target and captain Gilbert Banda was unlucky with a ferocious 25-metre strike that smashed against the woodwork on 39 minutes. The finalists didn’t do much to change the atmosphere in the packed facility at the start of the second period, with little action in the final third.
But Bosso fans had an anxious 15 minutes after the restart as the Bulls came to life. However, the Bulls blew a glorious chance to get out of Bosso’s sight when Enasio Perezo directed his header over following a fine Ocean Mushure free kick.
Highlanders returned fire immediately though substitute Graham Ncube could have done better, directing his effort wildly off the mark from just outside the area. The conflict was coming to life but it was the league champions fuelling all the flames. Gahadzikwa betrayed his side’s suspiciously rented crowds’ anxieties, blasting a 63rd-minute chance well over from close range.
With Highlanders struggling to find an answer to their troubles, the Mighty Bulls hung on to clinch their first ever Sup8r title and, most importantly, inking a fine piece of history in their growing stature as the country’s finest. Masuku cut a lonely figure at the final whistle, reflecting on what could have been, but gathered enough strength in the face of his darkest hour.
“The most important thing is that we got to the final but we lost. But we are quite disappointed that we lost the game. My boys were not in it, so it was difficult to come up with a positive result,” he said. It was indeed a different story for his opposite, Joey Antipas, and predictably, the man was overjoyed.
“It’s a great feeling winning this cup and I must give credit to the boys, they played according to our plan. Our plan was to squeeze the midfield so that they didn’t have any space and they resorted to high balls which we dealt with. We are going out to party tonight but will immediately turn focus to the league and we will be looking forward to our match against Chicken Inn.”
