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Eddie Chikamhi Harare Bureau
GIANTS Dynamos have declared they will not leave anything to chance when they face underdogs Triangle in the final of the NetOne OneWallet Cup at the National Sports Stadium tomorrow.The Glamour Boys go into the match as favourites following a good run in which they beat How Mine and arch-rivals Caps United in the early stages of the eight-team knockout tournament.
Biggie Zuze’s Triangle now stand as the final obstacle in their march.
Triangle will be featuring in their first ever cup final but they have indicated in the run up to this match that they are determined to throw everything at the fancied opponents to atone for a miserable run in the league.
The Lowveld side have had a poor season and are currently involved in the fight to survive relegation.
However, DeMbare goalkeepers’ coach, Tichaona Diya, said they were not looking at their opponents’ stature or their problems as they have set sights on lifting the NetOne OneWallet Cup which carries a whopping $80,000 prize money for the winners.
“We always hammer it into the players that at Dynamos we always play Cup finals. In our team, we’ve some players who have never won a medal so we’re encouraging them to grab the opportunity in this final with both hands,” said Diya.
“There’re no special incentives. What we agreed to and what we’d been promised at the beginning of the year in terms of incentives remains the same.
“It’s every team’s wish to win silverware, even Triangle also want to win this Cup but I believe we’re ready for the final.”
DeMbare have most of their players available for selection, including Masimba Mambare, who had spent six months grounded with a knee injury.
Midfield general Stephen Alimenda is also back in the team after missing last week’s league assignment against Shabanie Mine as a precaution to avoid aggravating an ankle problem.
But there were still huge concerns over the fitness of first choice goalkeeper Artwell Mukandi who injured his hip during a match at Rufaro last Sunday.
Walter Mukanga is still out with an ankle knock he picked in the TM/Pick ‘n’ Pay Challenge Cup final against Highlanders four weeks ago.
But Ocean Mushure and Devon Chafa were being monitored by the medical team.
DeMbare still look strong with the availability of the in-form Tafadzwa Rusike, Rodreck Mutuma, defenders Themba Ndlovu and Augustine Mbara and Ronald Chitiyo, who scored a spectacular goal to provide the winner against Shabanie Mine in their last outing.
While they aim to wrap up the game in regulation time, the side also dedicated time to practise penalty kicks.
DeMbare could have drawn vital lessons from this year’s Independence Cup which they lost to FC Platinum in the tie-breaker following a horrible shootout by Callisto Pasuwa’s men.
“When you prepare you’ve to prepare for everything. You never know what happens, the match could be decided through penalties so we’ve to be ready for it as well,” said Diya.
Triangle have won all their matches up to the final through penalty shootouts.
The Sugar Sugar Boys edged Harare City 7-6 after the match had ended 1-1 in regulation at Mandava in the quarter-finals.
They then beat Chicken Inn 5-3 in another shootout following a goalless draw, again at Mandava.
Triangle coach Zuze said they were happy to be underdogs but warned that his side needed to be respected.
“I hope the boys will raise their game. They know they’re playing a very good side like Dynamos in Harare. We know our opponents, they’ve proved over the years that they’re a big team,” said Zuze.
“They’re also the league champions but the good thing is that we’re also in the final because we’ve been winning matches in this Cup.
“So, we also need to be respected for that. I believe in my team. It’s only that we’ve not been getting the results we may have wanted in the league competition. Otherwise the boys have been playing well.
“We had challenges in that we were not converting chances and also we conceded easy goals. So we were trying to work on those shortcomings.
“Probably three quarters of our players have never played in a Cup final and this is their first time. But we’ve some experienced players like our captain William Mapfumo who played for Dynamos before.
“Hopefully his experience and leadership qualities will help his teammates to settle well and cast away fear on the big stage.”
The side had also been battling injuries to Charles Makoto, Hardlife Mavundi and Felix Kuswatuka who sprained his ankle two weeks ago in a league match against Buffaloes.
DeMbare won both league matches when the teams met in the marathon this year.
Despite their lack of experience, Triangle have a number of exciting players like Nhamo Lameck, Tinei Chitora, Brian Juwayeyi and striker Richard Kawondera.
Gate charges have been pegged at $3 for the cheapest ticket while bays 15-18 will cost $5.
Fixture: NetOne OneWallet Cup
Tomorrow
Dynamos v Triangle
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