By Langton Nyakwenda
Dynamos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1
Harare City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(1) 2
HARARE CITY are the Chibuku Super Cup champions after stunning Dynamos in a controversy-filled final at the National Sports, Harare yesterday.
The Sunshine Boys, who felt robbed when they lost to FC Platinum in last year’s final, will represent Zimbabwe in the Caf Confederations Cup.
Goals from ex-DeMbare striker Fransesco Zekumbawire and William Manondo secured the silverware. Zekumbawire opened proceedings on 17 minutes before the tournament’s top scorer, Manondo, sealed the deal seven minutes from full-time.
Dynamos got a late consolation in added time through substitute Richard Kawondera who had come on for Blessing Moyo four minutes before the final whistle.
But it was Bulawayo referee Pilani Ncube who hogged the limelight as he made several questionable decisions, most notably in the 53rd minute when he denied Dynamos what looked like a clear penalty after left-back Ocean Mushure was fouled by City’s Diro Nyenye.
Ncube adjudged that the offence was committed outside the box. Ten minutes earlier, DeMbare’s Walter Mukanga had escaped without any punishment for a nasty lunge on City winger Talent Chawapiwa.
Dynamos fans pelted the referee with missiles at the break as he walked to the changing rooms, and the man at the centre was nearly manhandled by irate DeMbare players after he blew the final whistle.
Aside from the controversy, the final lived up to its billing as action swung from one end to the other with DeMbare dominating early exchanges. They could have scored at least two goals inside the first 15 minutes but the usually dependable Takesure Chinyama fluffed gilt-edged chances.
City were to grab the lead through Zekumbawire, who beat Tatenda Mukuruva from close range after he was fed by the ever-dangerous Chawapiwa. The Sunshine Boys could have been two up by half time but Mukuruva brilliantly saved Kudakwashe Kumwala’s strike 10 minutes from the breather.
DeMbare came back fired up and had seemingly valid claims for a penalty seven minutes after restart waved away when the roving Mushure was upended by Nyenye.
City wrapped up the contest seven minutes from time when Manondo scored his fifth goal of the tournament. Substitute Martin Vengesayi outpaced DeMbare’s central defenders and curled his shot past a drawn out Mukuruva but not the upright.
Vengesayi reacted quickest to the rebound and passed the ball to an unmarked Manondo, who drilled home to silence the predominantly Dynamos crowd. City coach Taurai Mangwiro, as immaculately dressed as usual, punched the air when Ncube blew the final whistle as his team won the biggest piece of silverware in local football.
“I am delighted. As a coach I hadn’t won any big cup. I have done a lot in terms of player development in this country but this one is a huge accolade. We could have scored more had we utilised some of the chances that came our way. Each time we attacked Dynamos were in sixes and sevens,” he said.
Teams:
Dynamos: T Mukuruva, G Murwira, W Mukanga, E Muroiwa, O Mushure, R Chitiyo, C Rusere (K Bulaji, 89’), T Chinyama, B Moyo (R Kawondera, 86’), R Mutuma
Harare City: M Nyamupanedengu, A Chiveya, D Nyenye, T Ndhlovu, C Dickson, T Samanja, J Jam, W Manondo, T Chawapiwa (M Vengesayi, 64’), F Zekumbawire (T Tumba, 92’), K Kumwala (D Kutyauripo, 86’). The Sunday Mail
