AS SWEET AS IT CAN BE!

Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
Dynamos ………………………… (1) 1
Triangle …………………………. (1) 1
(Triangle won 4-3 on penalties)
BIGGIE Zuze was over the moon yesterday when he won his first medal in his soccer coaching career after leading underdogs Triangle to a maiden silverware through a penalty shootout victory over Dynamos in the NetOne One Wallet Cup final at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.

The Lowveld side completed a remarkable campaign, which has seen them winning all their matches in this eight-team tournament through penalty kicks, with a sweet victory through another “tie-breaker” after the teams had remained inseparable in 120 minutes of play.

Tafadzwa Rusike, who had a bright afternoon for the Glamour Boys, and Thomas Magorimbo were the villains for the Harare giants after missing the last two spot-kicks.

DeMbare were the first to take their chance and they started perfectly with Augustine Mbara, Blessing Moyo and Ronald Chitiyo all on target.
But Triangle looked like they were more geared up for the spot-kicks and they responded with Ronald Mudimu, Praise Tonha, Hillary Bakacheza and Tichaona Chipunza.

But they didn’t need to take the fifth penalty after Rusike and Magorimbo had sent their efforts wide to send the small band of the travelling supporters into a frenzy.
On their way to the final, the Lowveld side had also won their quarter-final match against Harare City and the semi-final tie against Chicken Inn through the penalty shootout.

They appeared they wanted it again yesterday as they looked comfortable with a defensive approach and employed all the delaying tactics to ensure that the match ended in a stalemate.

For their efforts, Triangle walked away with the trophy and US$80 000 winners prize money while DeMbare settled for US$50 000.
Zuze paid tribute to his players for committing themselves and playing to instructions.

“This is my first silverware in my coaching career and I will cherish this for the rest of my life. What a win especially when we were playing with 10 men and I think this will bring back confidence in the players and we hope for the best in our last league games.

“This was a great win and I give all the credit to the players. I think they did very well this afternoon especially when defending and also we knew what it was like playing Dynamos in the final.

“I am happy the guys managed to handle the pressure. There was a lot of confidence in them and also a lot of discipline with the ball.
“I think we won the game in the midfield where we were a bit strong and also the passing game that we played. Even when we were a man down, it didn’t really matter for us. We regrouped quickly. We brought in a defensive-minded person who stabilised our defence,” Zuze said.

Triangle played for nearly an hour one man short after defender Jimmy Dzingirai was given his marching orders for a rough challenge on Cliff Sekete in the 71st minute but De- Mbare could not utilise their numerical advantage.

Veteran forward Felix Kuswatuka had given them the confidence they needed on the big stage after putting them ahead when he pounced on a rebound in the 19th minute.

Midfielder Courage Denias had won a free-kick when he was fouled at the edge of the box and Young Warriors defender Praise Tonha took the responsibility with a low shot through the wall which almost eluded youthful shot-stopper Tatenda Mukuruva, who was given a starting place in the absence of injured first-choice goalkeeper Artwell Mukandi.

Roderick Mutuma levelled matters for Dynamos before the break when he headed home from a free-kick taken by Thomas Magorimbo on the left flank after 41 minutes.

Mutuma, however, was guilty of missing several chances as he failed to do justice to the good work by Chitiyo and Rusike.
DeMbare coach Callisto Pasuwa decided to pull him out at the start of extra-time but his replacement Anesu Gondo could not get many chances.

Pasuwa said his side were victims of their own complacency after missing a couple of chances and allowing Triangle to settle in the midfield where man-of-the-match Cabby Kamhapa, Charles Makoto and former CAPS United man Courage Denias enjoyed a good outing for Triangle.

“I think we should have buried the game in the 90 minutes but some of my guys were not putting in much effort in terms of play hence we couldn’t win the game,” said Pasuwa

Magorimbo, who missed a crucial penalty, said Triangle gave them a difficult afternoon but believes his miss had nothing to do with mounting pressure on his part after Rusike had sent his effort wide to give the visitors the advantage.

“We played very well, unfortunately we missed our chances. Our opponents came prepared for this game and they played much defensive.
“It was not really about pressure but I think it was a matter of concentration. I think I lacked concentration there. If I had scored that one I think we could have got another chance but I couldn’t convert. I think that was very demoralising to my teammates.

“As a captain I could have scored to motivate the other guys. So I can only say sorry to the guys and to our supporters for that mishap,” said Magorimbo.

TEAMS
Dynamos: T. Mukuruva, B. Moyo, T. Magorimbo, A. Mbara, T. Ndlovu, S. Alimenda (D. Chafa, 105th minute), R. Chitiyo, T. Muparati (C. Sekete, 65th minute), T. Rusike, R. Mutuma (A. Gondo, 91st minute), W. Pakamisa.
Triangle: R. Mudimu, P. Tonha, N. Merson (C. Ngondonga, 73rd minute), J Dzingai, W. Mapfumo, C. Makoto, C. Kamhapa (C. Rukwanhi, 105th minute), T. Chipunza, C. Denias (R. Kawondera, 67th minute), F. Kuswatuka, H. Bakacheza