Langton Nyakwenda in Bulawayo
Dynamos………………………………………..(1)1
Shabanie Mine…………………………………(0)1
(Shabanie Mine won 4-3 in penalties)
SHABANIE Mine’s outspoken coach, Luke Masomere deserves his place in the sun after his team shook off the underdog tag to knock out favourites, Dynamos out of the BancABC Sup8r Cup at Barbourfields yesterday and set up a first-ever Zvishavane cup final showdown against hometown rivals FC Platinum.
Masomere’s exuberance had been evident throughout the match build up in a week that he also taunted Dynamos with his never ending mind games and the outspoken gaffer was a relieved man when goalkeeper, Victor Twaliki, outstanding all afternoon, saved a penalty before drilling home the kick that sent the asbestos miners through and left DeMbare shell-shocked.
DeMbare thought they were on course to reach the final when a beautifully struck first half goal from a rejuvenated Russell Madamombe gave them the lead after just 22 minutes. But this Shabanie outfit has had a never-say-die spirit since Masomere took charge of the miners and despite being a goal down they took the game to their fancied opponents.
Shabanie were rewarded for their probing 11 minutes from time when striker, Tarisai Rukanda, silenced the vociferous Dynamos fans with the equaliser.
That goal seemed to have stunned the Dynamos players as Shabanie finished the stronger side and could have won it right at the death only for Caleb Masocha to miss from a counter raid.
With only the final going into extra-time in the event of a draw in regulation time, it meant that a penalty shoot-out lottery was on the cards after neither Dynamos nor Shabanie added to their goals.
In the end, it was the miners, who were left to party at Barbourfields after the unheralded Shabanie Mine defender, Blessed Mbavarira, Valentine Ndaba, Frankson Bushire and Twaliki converted their efforts.
Zimbabwe international and DeMbare’s trusted penalty taker, Devon Chafa, Ocean Mushure and man of the match, Tawanda Muparati, scored for the Glamour Boys.
Dynamos, however, got a hint of things to come when defender Thomas Magorimbo had his kick, for the Harare giants second penalty, saved by Twaliki.
Warriors goalkeeper George Chigova then saved Magorimbo the blushes for missing DeMbare’s second penalty when he dived to his right to block Pardon Marima’s effort.
Mushure then thrust DeMbare ahead when he sent Twaliki the wrong way but the skilful Ndaba responded in similar fashion to leave the scores at 2-2.
There was to be no second time lucky for Dynamos as substitute, Clive Kawinga held his head in agony after Twaliki stretched his legs to stop the ball from hoping in.
Shabanie Mine’s exciting left winger, Bushire sent Chigova the wrong way to give the Chinda Boys the advantage.
When Muparati coolly slotted home DeMbare’s last spot kick, the onus was left on Shabanie keeper, Twaliki to find the target and he held his nerve to drill home the winner that left the DeMbare fans, who had packed the Mpilo End shell shocked.
An elated Masomere said he was already looking forward to the Zvishavane Derby that will determine the team that will walk away with the US$120 000 prize money.
Financial institution BancABC, who bankroll the competition, gave a strong hint that the fiery derby would be played at Mandava. Masomere said he had never doubted his players capacity to upstage Dynamos who curiously have been poor away from the capital this season.
“People were always asking me why I was so confident during the run up to this match and the reason was that I believe in the capabilities of my players.
“Yes, Dynamos are a big team but people should also know that Shabanie Mine are also another big team. I am now itching for the final against FC Platinum and I promise my players will do much better than they did today,” said Masomere.
While Masomere was basking in the glory of leading Shabanie Mine to a rare appearance in a major cup final, DeMbare mentor, Callisto Pasuwa, felt his team deserved to lose after spurning numerous chances.
“Honestly speaking, we deserved to lose the match because we missed a lot of chances which could have cushioned us well before Shabanie’s late rally. Cup games are very tricky because one mistake is catastrophic and it is sad today we were on the receiving end,” Pasuwa said.
Dynamos had the lion’s share of the game with Muparati, Oscar Machapa, Washington Pakamisa and the goal scorer, Madamombe all coming close.
The beautiful story at least for DeMbare is the revival of Madamombe, who capped his fine afternoon with a spectacular curling shot that nestled into the top corner, beating Twaliki all systems out.
The ball was struck with so much precision and technique that clearly proved the industrious player is returning to the form that made him a big game player for his former club — Monomotapa — last season.
Madamombe and Muparati’s interplay on the left side of the midfield was too much for Shabanie Mine’s young defender, Mbavarira. DeMbare’s dominance only ended when Masomere made master-stroke substitutions, bringing in Fungai Chirinda and the dazzling Ndaba.
The duo’s industry was rewarded late in the game, just when the Dynamos fans were thinking of the final when forceful striker, Rukanda, headed home a fine cross from long serving defensive linkman, Tafadzwa Mombeshora.
Teams:
Dynamos: G. Chigova, O. Mushure, P. Jaure, G. Bello, T. Magorimbo, D. Chafa, T. Muparati, C. Sekete (M. Murape 56th min), O. Machapa (B. Marere 67th min), W. Pakamisa (C. Kawinga 87th min), R. Madamombe.
Shabanie Mine: V. Twaliki, Eria Phiri, B. Mbavarira, F. Bushire, T.Mombeshora, P. Marima, T. Rukanda, C. Masocha, S. Muchabaiwa, P. Zimunya (F. Chirinda 55th min), W. Ngonya (V. Ndaba 78th min).