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Langton Nyakwenda in TRIANGLE
NEVER mind the pre-match drama that pushed kick off back by 20 minutes. This Cup final still delivered a day that will live long in the memory.
A sharp finish, a full house, Freeman’s electric pre-match set and a vibrant trophy presentation lit up yesterday’s Chibuku Super Cup final at Gibbo. Dynamos walked away with an unprecedented third straight title after a moment of brilliance from Enasio Perezo Jr sealed it late on.
The 20-year-old struck the winner after 80 minutes. It was the only goal of the match and it carried the weight of a Cup final. Perezo had been on the pitch for just 12 minutes when he curled a beauty from the edge of the box, sending the Dynamos fans into wild celebration.
Triangle United had controlled large spells of the match but paid heavily for failing to turn pressure into goals.
“I felt something strange from within when I was seated on the bench. I felt like I would contribute something if I was to come on. When the ball rolled towards me I struck instinctively and it went in,” Perezo Jr told Zimpapers Sports Hub.
He credited coach Kelvin Kaindu, who is still unbeaten since taking over from Saul Chaminuka in August. The Zambian coach not only dragged Dynamos out of relegation trouble last weekend, he also claimed his first Chibuku Super Cup yesterday. He had lost the 2017 final with How Mine and finally got his hands on the trophy that once slipped away by inches.
Kaindu had also lifted the 2013 Mbada Diamonds Cup with Highlanders against How Mine. Yesterday’s performance, though, left him reflective.
“When you don’t play well and end up winning, you know it’s the grace of God,” said the soft spoken coach.
This was a final that didn’t seem to favour Dynamos at first glance. Their last win at Gibbo had come in 2016 and they hadn’t won a Chibuku match in regulation time all season. Perezo rewrote that script with one swing of his boot.
“The coach made us believe in ourselves when he came in. We had to win this Cup for him,” said Perezo Jr.
Dynamos suffered a scare in the first half when goalkeeper Prince Tafiremutsa was stretchered off after a brave save from Munashe Bamara. He was taken to hospital with a serious injury.
All this unfolded after the chaotic start as both teams argued over the match balls, causing the delay. When the match finally settled, it was Dynamos who threatened early before Triangle regrouped. Elton Njini and Bamara both came close as Triangle, chasing their second Chibuku title after their 2018 triumph, dominated the second-half.
But one lapse undid their afternoon.
“It was a Cup final and it can go either way. But we wanted to win this Cup for our fans, you can see they came in their numbers,” said Triangle coach Genesis Mangombe, who had hoped to win a second Chibuku title after guiding Dynamos to glory in 2023.
The two sides last met in a Cup final in October 2014, when Triangle beat Dynamos 4-3 on penalties in the One Wallet Cup. Kaindu avenged that painful chapter yesterday. The twist is that he once coached Triangle, leading them to a top four finish in 2015. Now he is leading Dynamos through a revival, even though speculation continues to swirl around his future with interest from Simba Bhora and newly promoted Hardrock.
All eyes, though, were on Chiredzi District yesterday. The region has produced football names that span generations, from Harlington Shereni to the Muteji twins Cain and Abel, Norman Togara, Patrick Kumbula, George Sibiya, Lloyd Hlahla and former Orlando Pirates hard man Zvenyika Makonese.
Since FC Platinum won the inaugural Chibuku Super Cup in 2014, the trophy has passed through many hands, Harare City in 2015 and 2017, Ngezi in 2016, Triangle in 2018, Highlanders in 2019, FC Platinum again in 2021 and Bulawayo Chiefs in 2022.
Now Dynamos have made it their own. Three straight titles and a new hero discovered on a hot Chiredzi afternoon.
TEAMS
Triangle United: T Chikosi, T Mugoniwa, N Chinyerere, A Mawadza, P Machengete, T Kamusoko, A Zeka, M. Bamara (A. Sadiki 74th), W Shave, E Njini, T Chatuluka
Dynamos: P Tafiremutsa (T Makoni32nd), E Jalai, A Gwatidzo, C Mandivei, I Mohamed, L Mavhunga (E. Perezo Jr 68th) , V Ngwenya (T Chiwunga 68th), F Agyemang (T Magwaza 85th), J Kasondo (F Hammond 85th), T Pio, S Nyahwa
Online Reporter