Bosso lose again

Sport
DYNAMOS are winners of the Gushungo Victory Cup after beating Highlanders in a penalty shoot -out before a near empty National Sports Stadium yesterday.

Dynamos . . . . . . . . 0 Highlanders . . . . . . 0

TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

(Dynamos won 3-2 after penalty shoot-out) DYNAMOS are winners of the Gushungo Victory Cup after beating Highlanders in a penalty shoot -out before a near empty National Sports Stadium yesterday.

For the victory Dynamos took home $45 000 while Highlanders were rewarded with $35 000. Bosso’s King Nadolo was named the man-of-the-match.

It appeared to be a balanced affair, with both sides carving out good chances, but it was Dynamos who appeared to miss a lot of clear chances with striker Simba Sithole the chief culprit.

Simba Sithole
Simba Sithole

The match eventually ended goalless to spill into the dreaded penalty shoot-out.

Highlanders led 2-0 on penalties after Charles Sibanda and Innocent Mapuranga had converted their spot-kicks while Dynamos reliable penalty taker Augustine Mbara and Fabrice Mbimba missed theirs.

But then Valentine Ndaba, Gabriel Nyoni and goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya went on to miss their spot-kicks with Ocean Mushure and Oscar Machapa converting before Blessing Moyo stepped to seal victory for the league champions.

The match was organised to celebrate President Robert Mugabe’s resounding victory in the harmonised elections in July last year, but the turnout was pathetic, to say the least, as it was watched by an estimated 5 000.

Several high-ranking government officials including Justice and Legal minister Emmerson Mnangagwa who was the head of the organising committee, attended the match.

Mnangagwa was the guest of honour at the match also attended by deputy of Home Affairs minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, Sport, Arts and Culture deputy minister Tabeth Kanengoni, legislators Mike Gava (Mhondoro Ngezi), Anastasiah Ndlovu (proportional representation) and Zimbabwe Tourism Authority chief executive officer Karikoga Kaseke.

Highlanders coach Mark Mathe believed his charges played one of their best games.

Highlanders
Highlanders

“It’s not that Dynamos are clever or that it was about their tactics. It’s just their time because this was perhaps our best match ever. We were very compact and when it came to penalties I said to my players I wanted one more ounce of character, but Dynamos had the mental strength,” Mathe said.

Dynamos coach Kalisto Pasuwa admitted Highlanders had a good game. “The opposition was strong today.

They were very compact and it was not easy. When Augustine our regular penalty taker missed, I was a bit nervous, I thought we would lose, but in the end we won.

It’s a great feeling and I would want to thank everyone including the supporters,” Pasuwa said.