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Eddie Chikamhi Senior Sports Reporter
AFTER reaching the Chibuku Super Cup final for the first time, Premiership outfit Herentals say they can’t wait for their date with destiny as they look to put the icing on the cake by winning their maiden major silverware.
Herentals shocked all and sundry on Sunday when they beat defending champions FC Platinum in the semi-finals of the country’s premier football knock-out tournament at Mandava.
The Students, who are playing in their third season of topflight football, have an interesting date with fellow first-timers, Bulawayo Chiefs, in the final set for Barbourfields on November 19.
Head coach Kumbirai Mutiwekuziva told The Herald yesterday that reaching the final of the Chibuku Super Cup was quite an achievement for his team, more so after eliminating the platinum miners, who have been on a 19-match unbeaten run.
“This is our first appearance in the country’s biggest knock-out tournament and we are quite excited about that.
“It means a lot for us to play in the final. It’s a big achievement for a fairly young club as Herentals who are playing only their third season in the Premiership.
“For me as a coach and everyone associated with Herentals, it shows that the football project is going on very well. It has taken us just three seasons to play in a cup final and I must say this must just be the beginning of good things to come.
“We hope to continue getting the limelight particularly in these cup tournaments. In the future we would like to play in the CAF inter-club competitions, considering the FIFA suspension is lifted.
“But for now we are not going too far ahead of ourselves. We have just gotten into the final and the cup hasn’t been won yet. Of course I am excited but success for me is winning accolades and silverware. So we must continue to focus.
“There is a final to play in a few weeks’ time and Bulawayo Chiefs also want it. So it’s still game on,” said Mutiwekuziva.
Herentals dumped defending champions FC Platinum after a penalty shoot-out at Mandava. They have not had it easy in the run up to the final, starting with the 2-1 win over 2016 champions Ngezi Platinum Stars at their Baobab fortress.
They then edged Manica Diamonds by an identical scoreline at the National Sports Stadium in the quarter-finals, to set up an appointment with the in-form platinum miners, who were the defending champions. Interestingly, the last time FC Platinum had lost a game was against Herentals at the National Sports Stadium on April 30.
And on Sunday, Herentals were trailing for the bigger part of the match thanks to a first half strike from the league’s man-of-the moment, Walter Musona.
However, The Students forced a penalty shoot-out courtesy of an 89th minute equaliser by substitute Avi Mataranyika. The goal was enough to rekindle the fairy-tale as they went on to prevail 4-3 in the lottery.
Herentals have also had a decent run in the Castle Lager Premiership where a top four finish is still within reach, with four rounds of play remaining.
“It hasn’t been an easy road at all. Just look at the teams that we faced in the Chibuku Super Cup. I don’t think many would have given us a chance,” said Mutiwekuziva.
“I think I can attribute this good run of results mainly to the hard work by the players, the depth and balance in our team.
“We have also received priceless support from our team management, especially the president of the club (Innocent Benza),” said Mutiwekuziva.
Bulawayo Chiefs upstaged Black Rhinos in the other semi-final at Mandava on Sunday, also via a penalty shoot-out.
The game had ended goalless in regulation time.
Both Herentals and Bulawayo Chiefs were rank outsiders at the start of the tournament. But what is certain now is that the domestic topflight league will this year have new
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