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Dingilizwe Ntuli, Sports Editor
DECIDING matches through penalty shootouts have long been described as a lottery because no one can with certainty say who the winner will be.
That it’s a lottery, however, doesn’t prevent the bizarre from happening. Goalkeepers are always at the forefront of some bizarre actions in a bid to psyche penalty takers out. While keepers try to do everything to wind up penalty takers without being too aggressive, How Mine goal minder Munyaradzi Diya took the mind games to a new level yesterday in his side’s 3-4 shootout loss to Highlanders.
He literally tried to get into the Bosso players’ minds by removing his gloves and throwing them into the net to attempt to save the penalty kicks barehanded.
His bizarre act, however, didn’t unnerve the Bosso players, who calmly slotted their efforts into the net leaving Diya clutching thin air.
Diya then took the last kick for his side, which was comfortably saved by Highlanders’ keeper to cap his litany of vain antics.
There should comparatively be little pressure on goalkeepers during shootouts because they are not expected to save penalties, but the takers are expected to score and it was fascinating to watch Diya trying to trigger crippling nerves in every Bosso taker.
Fans were astonished when Diya chose to try and save the spot kicks barehanded over and above speaking to every Bosso taker as they prepared to take their kicks.
Before the shootout, Diya had sprinkled water on the goal line and thrown the empty bottle into the net, as part of his mind games to make Highlanders’ players nervous or think they can’t beat him.
Diya approached the Bosso takers with ball in hand, looked them straight in the eyes and said whatever he said before handing over the ball to the taker. Needless to say his mind games didn’t work and his team was bundled out of the Chibuku Super Cup.
Online Reporter