Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi
Zimpapers Sports Hub
GIANTS Dynamos could have been left with much to ponder regarding their plans to lift the Chibuku Super Cup title for a record third straight season following the announcement by the Premier Soccer League yesterday that the 2025 final will take place at Gibbo.
DeMbare, who are winners of the previous two editions, have a tricky date with home team Triangle in the decider on November 29.
But they will need to face their demons at Gibbo head-on, as the Glamour Boys have not won a league match against Triangle at the venue since 2016.
Triangle coach Genesis Mangombe feels playing at Gibbo will put his team at an advantage in their own quest to win their and his second Chibuku Super Cup title.
“It’s a plus for us because if you see all the Chibuku Super Cup games, we haven’t been at home. Our supporters were curious to see how we play in this Chibuku Cup.
“So, I think they will come in their numbers to support their beloved team and at the same time we also have an added advantage of playing at home . . . since we are winding up the season I think we now have what it takes for us to be in the final and what it takes for us to clinch the cup,” said Mangombe.
Ironically, Mangombe was the Dynamos coach when the Glamour Boys won the 2023 edition with victory over Ngezi Platinum Stars at Baobab.
This means he is also vying for a second gold medal with a different club as coach.
He has led Triangle on a dominant run in the campaign, which started with a 1-0 win over minnows Kwekwe United in the preliminary round.
They then shocked former champions Ngezi Platinum Stars with a 6-5 penalty shoot-out victory at Baobab following a goalless draw in regulation time.
Triangle made a bold statement with a 2-0 win over Manica Diamonds in the quarter-final before repeating the feat against MWOS at the Punters’ Ngoni fortress in the semi-finals.
Now Triangle also hope the trend will continue at Gibbo where they have not lost a match against Dynamos since 2016.
Dynamos nonetheless have been the most dominant force in the Chibuku Super Cup in the last two years.
They have won the final both home and away when beating Ngezi Platinum Stars in the previous two editions at Baobab and Rufaro.
Just like Triangle, who are fighting against relegation, DeMbare took the long route in this year’s competition after they were drawn to play in the preliminary round.
Their coach Kelvin Kaindu has brought back positive energy to the side, and they have accounted for teams like Yadah, ZPC Kariba, Simba Bhora and Highlanders on their way to the final.
DeMbare hosted the previous final, which they won at Rufaro when edging Ngezi Platinum Stars in a penalty shoot-out last year.
The Chibuku Super Cup final has rotated venues since its inception in 2014 and this will be the second time it will be played at Gibbo.
The first time was in 2018 when Triangle won their only silverware in this competition, after downing holders Harare City courtesy of goals from Phineas Bamusi and then captain Ralph Kawondera.
Both players have since moved on with their careers but their goals left a lasting legacy in the Lowveld.
The news about the hosting should have come as a huge motivating factor for Triangle, who are fighting for a second Chibuku Super Cup title.
History has demonstrated that hosting the Chibuku Super Cup often comes with home comforts for the hosting team as nine of the 10 winners of the competition since 2014 were the home teams.
Only Dynamos went against the grain in 2023 when they overcame Ngezi Platinum Stars at their Baobab backyard with a 2-0 win.
They were at home at Rufaro last year when they met Ngezi Platinum Stars again in the final and triumphed via a penalty shoot-out.
Dynamos, Harare City and FC Platinum are the only teams that have won the silverware twice apiece in the competition’s history.
But Triangle can fancy their chances of joining that class this year after giving a strong fight from the preliminary round.
