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Tadious Manyepo in MURAMBINDA
Dynamos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 1
Highlanders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0
DYNAMOS played ugly but the formula was still good enough to finally outwit perennial rivals Highlanders in the Independence Cup when lifting the Uhuru crown at Uhera Stadium, Murambinda B High School yesterday.
Bosso had dominated DeMbare over the past three editions of this tournament and was looking to make it four in a row before a packed 20,000-seater facility etched in rural Buhera.
That the Bulawayo giants are enjoying a good run in the league where they are leading the marathon after six-match days meant they went into this tie carrying the favourites tag having also beaten Dynamos 2-1 in the league already this term.
Coach Kelvin Kaindu even fielded mostly his fringe players but his Glamour Boys counterpart Genesis Mangombe dispatched his regulars.
It was Mangombe’s strategy that yielded the desired results, Donald Mudadi volleying home a second-minute goal that eventually won the contest for the Harare giants.
With the Glamour Boys punching below their weight in the league, they needed to win this one to at least boost their confidence ahead of their league clash against TelOne on Sunday.
For their efforts, Dynamos pocketed US$25 000 while Bosso went home US$15 000 richer for their efforts.
Mangombe made it clear before the game that he wanted to stop Highlanders and lift the cup.
He did just that, and his game plan worked out well.
“We wanted to score an early goal and unsettle them. We managed to do that and I am happy with the way played,” he said.
“My players implemented the game plan well and this is good. We need to win every trophy that we have a chance to pick.
“I am impressed as a coach to pick my first silverware for the year 2024. This gives us some spring going into the league games where we are not doing well.
“Highlanders is a strong team and they gave us some hard running. They are a good side and being able to beat them is motivating. We gave our fans something to cheer up.”
Kaindu said conceding early proved to be their major undoing.
“We conceded early and from then we were rushing our passes as we desperately sought to get an equaliser,” said Kaindu.
“But we did stretch them. I am disappointed with the result but happy with the performance of our team.”
Dynamos seemed to be the hungrier of the two sides and were duly rewarded inside the opening two minutes with Jalai intercepting Andrew Thandi’s pass before launching a long pass forward that found Mudadi who made no mistake.
They could have added another one within the first 10 minutes but Sadney UriKhob and Mudadi took turns to miss their chances.
Bosso then took control of the game from then till the end but Dynamos were resolute in defence and laboured their way to the finish line despite Brian Ndlovu, Andrew Mbeba, and Mason Mushore all coming close to pegging them back.
Teams
Dynamos: Martin Mapisa, Emmanuel Jalai (Tendaishe Magwaza 68min) Frank Makarati, Donald Dzvinyai, Kevin Moyo, Donald Mudadi (Valentine Kadonzvo 82min), Frederick Ansa-Botchway, Tanaka Shandirwa (Temptation Chiwunga 45 min), Alexander Mandinyenya (Elton Chikona 68min), No more Chinyerere, Sadney Uri-Khob (Emmanuel Paga 46min)
Highlanders: Raphael Pitisi, Andrew Tandi, Brian Mhlotshwa, Brian Ndlovu, Marvin Sibanda (McKinnon Mushore 46min), Mason Mushore, Godfrey Makaruse(Archfird Faira 75min), Andrew Mbeba, Marvellous Chigumira (Prince Ndlovu 46min), Reason Sibanda (Brighton Ncube 75min), Honest Mhlanga(Lynoth Chikuhwa 46min)
Online Reporter