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Sports Reporter
WITH the third edition of the Mbada Diamonds Cup final just about 24 hours away, former Dynamos striker Rodrick Mutuma’s proud but unacknowledged record will go up in smoke tomorrow, unless the two finalists fail to score in open play. Mutuma, who was the 2011 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Golden Boot winner with a paltry 14 goals, remains the only player in the history of the country’s premier knockout tournament to have scored in two finals of the tournament.
Now at Absa Premiership in South Africa with Bloemfontein Celtic, Mutuma scored in the inaugural final when the Glamour Boys beat now relegated Motor Action 1-0 in 2011 and last year, the pencil slim former Quelaton forward scored a brace as DeMbare emerged 2-0 winners over Monomotapa who were also subsequently relegated this season.
That record though has only 24 hours left before it goes up in smoke with How Mine and league title bridesmaids Highlanders set to clash in a potentially explosive cup final at Barbourfields Stadium.
Whoever scores in the final in open play will join Mutuma in the finals’ goal scorers’ chart.
Meanwhile, Highlanders’ speed merchant Gabriel Nyoni is still in line for the tournament’s fastest goal as well as the top goalscorer award unless someone else scores in less than two minutes in tomorrow’s final.
The National University of Science and Technology marketing student scored in the second minute in their first round match against Lowveld side Triangle. He is also the tournament’s leading marksman with two goals which coincidentally were scored in the same match.
For the fastest goal, the recipient will take home $500 with a trophy and $1 000 being reserved for the most lethal boots.
Winners of the lucrative tournament will receive $130 000 in prizemoney and a ticket to the Caf Confederations Cup competition with the diamond mining company availing $110 000 as a subsidy.
However, Highlanders are already out following an embarrassing administrative boob by Zifa’s Jonathan Mashingaidze who registered the Bulawayo giants without their consent in 2011. The gold miners How Mine are reportedly not eager to invade Africa unless they make a last minute change of heart.
“We stand guided by the Premier Soccer League in terms of who will be participating in the Confederations Cup but our thrust is to have Zimbabwean teams participating in international competitions,” said Mbada Diamonds Cup organising committee chairman Tafadzwa Chiremba during a press conference at a Bulawayo hotel yesterday.
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