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Grace Chingoma Sports Reporter
NEWLY crowned Chibuku Super Cup kings Harare City have insisted they will not overhaul their current squad and believe the side that Taurai Mangwiro has assembled has the pedigree to make a mark in the CAF Confederation Cup. The Sunshine Boys will make their maiden bow in the continent’s second tier inter-club competition next year in which they would have to start at the preliminary round stage.
Harare City have, however, revealed that they are eager to make an impression in the Confederation Cup with club secretary Mathew Marara maintaining that they will not be in the tournament just make up the numbers. The Sunshine Boys beat Dynamos 2-1 at the National Sports Stadium on Saturday to win the second edition of the Chibuku Super Cup and secure their ticket to represent Zimbabwe in the CAF Confederation Cup.
It was only Harare City’s second victory over Dynamos in nine meetings since 2012 but one that they will cherish for a long time to come as a goal each by rangy striker Francisco Zekumbawire and tournament top goalscorer William Manondo secured them the trophy. Manondo finished the competition with five goals but there was no prize for the Golden Boot award.
In reaffirming his club’s commitment to participating in the Confederation Cup, Marara also expressed confidence in the current squad they have. Although he indicated that they would beef up in some departments, Marara ruled out an overhaul of the 2015 Sunshine Boys outfit. “Definitely we are going into Africa. Definitely we will play in Africa. With the recommendations from the coaches we are going to bring in maybe two or three more players only to beef up the squad otherwise our squad is okay. But definitely we will expect two or three new faces,” said Marara.
So confident was Marara that prior to the game he claimed that they even bought their blazers at the start of the season but kept them specifically for the Chibuku Super Cup final. “We are excited and this is what we expected right from the start. When we started this tournament this year, we said last year we missed it at the last moment. Then this year we have to take it.
“That’s why you see our boys were motivated and right from the start they were scoring for fun because we had said to them yesteryear was not our year but this year is our year and today we are celebrating. Harare Mayor Bernard Manyenyeni, who was cheering his team from the terraces, also reiterated their support for the team for the tougher African jungle.
Manyenyeni also paid tribute to Mangwiro and his men and reckoned that the Sunshine Boys’ gaffer had exhibited tactical astuteness in containing Dynamos and silencing their vociferous crowd. “The coach was very tactical, he got his team to contain Dynamos and secure the victory in the first half. They (Dynamos) put up a spirited performance and they got their last minute goal but it wasn’t enough for what needed to be done. The game was already won.
“I think in terms of talent we have got what it takes to get into the African journey and would like to support the guys, in fact we are carrying a lot of tail wind as we push into Africa. “In terms of resources it is going to be challenging but the national flag is at stake and we have to fly the brand,” said Manyenyeni.
Harare City were clearly the better on the day when Dynamos had talismanic midfielder Ronald Chitiyo, Warriors forward Roderick Mutuma and veteran striker Takesure Chinyama off colour. For Mangwiro, winning the Chibuku Super Cup will atone for a season in which they have been the league’s draw specialists with 13 draws from 26 matches.,
Mangwiro also revealed that he had pressed on the need to get an early goal in order to settle their nerves. “We wanted an early goal and I said to the boys I want to see how Dynamos will respond if we score an early goal and you saw for yourself it could have been five it could have been six. We have ourselves to blame for not maximising.
“At least now we can go back and say in 2015 this is what we achieved. What it now means for us is if we can push even higher so that we push into a better position than the sixth we are currently on,” Mangwiro said. The Sunshine Boys meant business from the first round where they beat Buffaloes 4-1 in the first round before thrashing Triangle 5-0 in the quarter-finals.
They also made light work of ZPC Kariba in the semi-finals hammering them 4-1. In scoring five goals, Manondo beat the two goals that last year’s Chibuku Cup top marksman Lot Chiunga of Black Rhinos had managed. Although he did not receive any reward for his five goals, Manondo was happy to see his efforts resulting in Harare City being crowned the Chibuku Super Cup Kings.
“I am very happy today. This tournament is not easy, but we managed to take our chances. We took each and every game seriously and I would like to thank my teammates for the fighting spirit. “I was just inspired as I took to the pitch in each and every game as I recently became a father. My first born Delani who was born on August 2, motivated me to score and be more responsible as a new father.
“It is everyone’s wish to play in Africa and it is going to be my first time to play in Africa and also first time for Harare City but we have to continue working hard,” said Manondo.
Online Reporter