Tongai Mashonga and Langton Nyakwenda
HARDROCK will know their Chibuku Super Cup final opponent this afternoon when CAPS United face Bosso at Rufaro Stadium.
This is after 10-man Hardrock produced yet another miraculous comeback to book a place in the final, going from 2-0 down to 2-2 and then eventually winning 5-3 on penalties at Chahwanda Stadium yesterday.
For the second home game in a row, the miners stared defeat in the face and still found a way, leaving head coach Kelvin Kaindu declaring: “I think it’s just our season.”
The semi-final had everything — missed chances, a red card, a smashed technical dugout shelter and a last-gasp equaliser.
Prince Dube scored his first brace for Hardrock, levelling the scores after Hunters took the lead through Godfrey Babgwa and Delight Gandari.
In the penalty kicks, Prince Dube, Gerald Takwara, Nigel Matinha, Thubelihle Mavuso and Xolani Ndlovu sent the miners into the final.
Ronald Pfumbidzai, Emmanuel Zinyama and Elder Chirinda scored Hunters’ penalties, while Vusumuzi Ngwenya had his effort saved by Martin Mapisa.
Speaking after the match, Kaindu hailed the never-say-die culture his side has built.
“It was difficult, but I’m happy with the culture that we have developed to believe in ourselves. That it’s not over until it’s over,” he said.
“We showed a bit of composure in the second half. I think we didn’t have a good first half the way that we started. Even on Friday I spoke to the players that I wasn’t happy with the way that I saw them.
“Psychologically, we were not very ready for this game and probably it affected us in the way that we started. But I’m happy with the culture that we are developing that no matter what happens we can still come back and that is what we did today.”
Kaindu deserved special praise for his mid-season acquisitions, with Mavuso slicing through a number of defenders and Prince Dube once again proving decisive with a brace.
“Not much of course from him, but these are players that will give you something that you want at the right time and this is what he did,” he said.
“A beautiful play from Mavuso, eliminating a number of defenders also into the box, and also Prince scoring the penalty. It shows how much influence he has given us since coming in midseason.
“I think all the players that joined us in the mid-season they’ve given us a different dimension in terms of approach and in terms of the way that we are playing, but we also need to work. We give away easy goals. We need to work on the way that we are defending.”
FC Hunters coach Nesbert Saruchera cut a disappointed but defiant figure, admitting his charges let it slip after scoring two good goals.
“Defeat hurts, but dwelling on it won’t change the result,” Saruchera said.
“But we lost. We can’t keep on crying. We need to go back and maybe organise and play the next encounter.
“It’s now water under the bridge, we’ve lost. We still have another one. So, it’s up to us to circle off the points so that we are ready for the next encounter.”
FC Hunters are still in the Munhumutapa Challenge Cup matrix where they are to meet FC Platinum in the semi-finals.
Attention now turns to the other Chibuku Cup semi-final between CAPS United and Highlanders at Rufaro Stadium this afternoon. CAPS have reached the Chibuku Super Cup semi-finals twice, and on both occasions have fallen short of reaching the final.
In fact, the Green Machine are yet to lift the Chibuku Super Cup since the tournament’s inception in 2014. Now, they are bracing for a third semi-final appearance, hoping to finally break the jinx and reach their maiden final.
CAPS United return to the same venue where they narrowly lost 0-1 to Scottland in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match on Thursday.
Although they suffered defeat, Makepekepe put up a gallant performance and could have walked away with at least a point had their strikers, particularly Obriel Chirinda, been more clinical in front of goal.
CAPS defender Nyasha Gurende said he was geared for today’s showdown against Bosso.
“We have moved on from the loss against Scottland and we are now focused on the match against Highlanders,” he said.
“It’s another tough and testing encounter against Highlanders. It will not be easy.”
This is only the second time CAPS United and Highlanders are meeting in a Chibuku Super Cup contest.
Makepekepe won 5-3 on penalties when the two giants clashed in the quarter-finals in 2023, after the match at Barbourfields Stadium had ended 2-2 in regulation time.
A huge crowd is expected to rally behind Makepekepe, if the midweek attendance figures, when they hosted Scottland, are anything to go by.
“We are going to do our best as CAPS United and make sure that we progress to the final,” said Gurende.
“Yes, we are coming from a 1-0 defeat against Scottland, but there were so many positives from that game. We will do our best.”
Gurende is likely to partner Kudzai Chigwida and Talent Chamboko in coach Takesure Chiragwi’s back-three formation. Chamboko is a former Chibuku Super Cup winner, having been part of the Ngezi Platinum Stars side that lifted the trophy in their debut season in 2016.
His experience could prove crucial for Chiragwi, who is desperate to deliver silverware for Makepekepe, who are already out of the league title race.
They have also been eliminated from the ZIFA Munhumutapa Challenge Cup.
Chiragwi said: “We want to win. We have failed to deliver the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title to the team, so we surely have to pick up something this season.
“We are not looking at who we are playing. We will be looking at what we can do as a team to secure our passage to the final.”
CAPS United are the bookmakers’ favourites to win the contest, given that they have already beaten Highlanders twice in the league this season.
Makepekepe beat Bosso 4-2 at Rufaro Stadium before claiming a 2-1 victory in the return fixture at Barbourfields Stadium. A third defeat for Highlanders might not go down well with their supporters, but club legend Siza Khoza believes this is an opportunity for Bosso to settle the scores.
“For the pride of the team, this is the only cup that is there for us and the boys have to make sure they deliver,” he said.
“This is a big game between two big giants in the country. The game is self-motivating for the players. The approach to this game has to be very positive.”
Highlanders won the Chibuku Super Cup in 2019 and are now gunning for a second title, while CAPS United are desperate to end their long wait for glory.
