Online Reporter
Langton Nyakwenda and Ray Bande
Zimpapers Sports Hub
DYNAMOS cannot buy a goal, but they simply refuse to bow out.
Yesterday at Rufaro Stadium, they again tiptoed through 90 goalless minutes, then held their nerve from the spot to edge ZPC Kariba 4-2 and reach the Chibuku Super Cup semi-finals for a third straight year.
It was the third time in this campaign that DeMbare have needed a penalty lottery, after Yadah in the preliminary round and Simba Bhora in the first.
Not a single goal in regulation time, yet the record books show a team still on course for a historic hat-trick of Chibuku titles after lifting the cup in 2023 and 2024.
Coach Kelvin Kaindu admitted the tension.
“With a bit of luck, we could have wrapped up the game in the first half. Today, it was a bit tense maybe because it was a cup game,” he said.
Captain Emmanuel Jalai, Denver Mukamba, Felix Hammond and Vusa Ngwenya all converted their kicks, while new penalty-specialist goalkeeper Tatenda Makoni, brought on late for Prince Tafiremutsa, saved Fanuel Shoko’s effort to spark wild celebrations.
Mukamba, who has carried much of the attacking weight, vowed they will find the net in their coming matches.
“We have to keep working hard. Yes, we are not scoring, but I am sure it will be fine soon,” he said. “Dynamos now need more goals and it’s important that we start scoring. Next week we play CAPS United. This is a big match, this is the derby, my brother, and we have to be sure.”
ZPC Kariba coach Newton Chitehwe could only salute his team’s effort.
“Anything can happen in the penalty shootout,” he said.
While Dynamos thrived on nerve in Harare, Triangle FC showed cold efficiency in Mutare, knocking out fancied Manica Diamonds 2-0 in a fiery Eastern Region derby at Sakubva Stadium.
The drama began long before kickoff.
Police confirmed two arrests after Triangle coach Genesis Mangombe and a staff member were assaulted late yesterday amid claims they had tried to gain entry into Sakubva for rituals.
On the pitch, Munashe Bamara struck three minutes before halftime, and Witness Shave killed off the tie in the 69th minute after outpacing a stretched Manica defence.
The game boiled over as referee Brighton Chimene dismissed three players, Manica substitute Fortune Binzi and the Triangle duo of Ali Maliselo and Jordan Pedra, for violent conduct.
Triangle assistant coach Newsome Mtema, standing in for Mangombe, praised his side’s composure.
“We had a very difficult first half, but we managed to stay in the match and compete favourably,” he said. “We managed to create scoring opportunities. We are happy that we got the result that we wanted after making the most of the chances we created.”
Manica Diamonds coach Tafadzwa Mashiri was blunt.
“We were just not there. We played badly and our opponents capitalised. They not only created chances, but also managed to be clinical in burying those chances. If you do not score, you do not win and that is what exactly happened here,” he said.
The contrasting victories set up a compelling semi-final picture.
Dynamos continue to defy their scoring drought with ice-cool shootouts, whilist Triangle look every inch a dark horse capable of toppling anyone.
The draw promises fireworks as the quest for Zimbabwe’s premier knockout crown tightens.
Dynamos and Triangle will have to wait for the draw after today’s matches pitting Bikita Minerals against MWOS, and Highlanders versus Scottland to know their semi-finals opponents.
