Online Reporter
JUST a week after surviving a nail biting relegation fight, both Dynamos and Triangle take to the field seeking glory in the Chibuku Super Cup at Gibbo this afternoon.
It’s a chance at redemption for the pair who spent most of the Premier Soccer League season hanging down the ladder before eventually surviving the chop on the final day of the term.
Both teams know very well how good it feels to win this trophy having been on the podium before.
In fact, Dynamos are seeking to win it for what will be an unprecedented third time on the trot if they can find a formulae to constrict Triangle this afternoon.
The Glamour Boys have failed to beat Triangle at Gibbo since 2016.
But this is a cup final and their last chance for consolation in a year they punched well below their weight.
Triangle, on the other hand, know this terrain well and will be banking on home advantage having won in the only other time they hosted this match when beating Harare City 2-0 back in 2018.
There are so many plots and sub-plots to this game too whose winner will represent the country in the CAF Confederation Cup next year.
Triangle coach Genesis Mangombe led Dynamos to the Chibuku Super Cup glory in 2023 before he got sacked last year.
He has on board former Dynamos players Ali Maliselo and Nomore Chinyerere at the lowveld side.
He has also coached almost the entire Dynamos squad he will face this afternoon.
Tadious Manyepo is at GIBBO, and will be giving you live updates
Full house for Chibuku Super Cup
Gibbo Stadium isn’t a big complex. But it rarely gets packed.
It’s totally different this afternoon. The compact arena has been filled up and it looks like it will be full to the rafters by the time the match gets underway.
Musician Freeman was the first to serenade them.
It was a good dress rehearsal of what’s to come.
We can only hope the showdown will be worth the hype.
Meanwhile the trophy is taking an all-round tour of the stadium, just for the fans to see and appreciate it.
Triangle, Dynamos line ups
Triangle
Takudzwa Chikosi, Tyler Mugoniwa, Nomore Chinyerere, Arnold Mawadza, Praise Machengete, Thabani Kamusoko, Aaron Zeka, Munashe Bamara, Witness Shave, Elton Njini, Tawanda Chatuluka
Dynamos
Prince Tafiremutsa, Emmanuel Jalai, Abel Gwatidzo, Clive Mandivei, Issaka Mohammed, Tellmore Pio, Ross Ngwenya, Shadreck Nyahwa, Frank Agyemang, Jairos Kasondo, Leeroy Mavunga
Get ready for this showdown
Warm-up done. Back to the dressing rooms. Back to the pitch. National anthem.
Warm it up again. The traditional team rituals. And we are all set for it.
Then boom, it’s drama that kicks off
Dynamos, led by their manager Ronald “Gidiza” Sibanda are refusing to take to the field. Reason?
They want Triangle’s 10 match balls to be reduced to five.
Dynamos themselves have been allowed five footballs.
What the hell is this?
So why Dynamos can’t have 10 footballs of their own?
They travelled with only five. Television schedule has been delayed. PSL officials look stranded. Dynamos maintain their stance. How amateurish our football can get.
The Dynamos executive sit relaxed in the terraces. They can’t say a word. Yes fine is coming but who suffers. You guessed it right; it’s our football.
Finally, we are underway
It’s so sad but this is the state of our football.
No ways.
Anyway, we are off now
Game delayed by 20 minutes
In the end, we witnessed a 20-minute delay for such a petty reason. PSL look like they have now retrieved all the five Dynamos footballs. They won’t be used altogether.
Only Triangle footballs will be used. To think that whoever wins this match will represent the country in the CAF Confederation Cup is worrying. Not with this utter unprofessionalism.
In a way it’s a sad day for football. People are at Gibbo to watch football. But they were treated to some tragi-comedy of some sort. Hopefully the players will put in a performance that will erase the disappointment.
At least the match is lively
Some reverting end-to-end match. It’s so exciting you wonder why we had to be treated to unnecessary drama first.
Dynamos almost broke the ice but Agyemang’s shot was too tame to trouble Chikosi.
At the other end, Shave should be kicking himself for heading weakly towards Tafiremutsa instead of chesting it down first and go for glory as he was all by himself.
But at least the match isn’t lacking in entertainment and aesthetics.
The energy, passion and enthusiasm down the terraces have added salt and spice to the fixture as well.
What a save from Tafiremutsa
Twenty minutes on the clock and Triangle were almost celebrating.
A lofted ball from the left flank was met first time by Chatuluka.
The centre-forward got it all right but Tafiremutsa stuck his right hand up and denied him the chance.
That’s one of the reasons the former Herentals ‘keeper is touted as one of the best in the country at the moment.
Another save from Tafiremutsa
This time, it’s big.
Bamara with a big volley from inside the box.
It was destined for the right. Tafiremutsa’s elastic body carried him right there with and his wrist blocked the shot.
Gibbo was all up. But it wasn’t just to be. Tafiremutsa is injured in the process. He has to be treated. Dynamos will be hoping it’s not that bad.
It’s a lengthy stoppage
Tafiremutsa is so far the star of the show. But the injury he has suffered looks bad, hopefully not too bad.
Team doctor Robert Musara is called on. He is in the field. And he will be the one to advise whether Tafiremutsa continues or not.
The fear is confirmed
Tafiremutsa has been carried off the field.
His understudy Tatenda Makoni will come on.
Match resumes 38min on
It’s Makoni who will have to do what Tafiremutsa has been doing.
Tafiremutsa has been stretchered off.
He will be treated on the Dynamos dugout.
Tafiremutsa will have to be whisked to the hospital
Jalai is down, injured moments before the break
Half Time
Second half begins
Triangle 0-0 Dynamos
Ball boys chased away
For the entire half, the players will have to retrieve the footballs for themselves after ball boys were chased out by the ref.
It’s all about the footballs.
Why ball boys have been ejected?
A decision was made to have footballs from both ends used. But the ball boys were only taking up Triangle footballs.
Match intensity drops
Hot, humid and overcast. The conditions seem to have taken a lot of toll on the players’ physicality. The match has slowed down but it is still Triangle who are dominating.
Could it be one of those matches where we will see weather conditions determining the outcome. Dynamos players have been worn out. Triangle have the endurance thanks to the conditions they live and train in.
But the scoreboard is all that matters. As it stands, no one has the advantage. We have played 67min
Goaaaaal
Dynamos 1-0 up Perezo
80min
What a goal from Perezo
Triangle have been dominating play.
And just a moment of lapse presented Enasio Perezo (Jnr) with an opportunity to whip what should now be the goal of the tournament.
Left loose outside the D, Perezo latched onto a loose ball. He wrapped his left around it. It then swerved to the far corner.
A next level effort and Dynamos could be on their way to an unprecedented third Chibuku Super Cup triumph in a row. They are actually moments away. Just some good game management will do the trick.
Dynamos almost there now
Dynamos are the Chibuku Super Cup champions
Full Time
Triangle 0-1 Dynamos
