Online Reporter
Innocent Kurira at Barbourfields Stadium
Highlanders 0-0 Chicken Inn
Highlanders won 3-1 on penalties
ARON NGWENYA saved two penalties to carry strike-hit Highlanders into the Chibuku Super Cup quarter-finals yesterday after a turbulent week at the Bulawayo giants.
A goalless 90 minutes sent the tie to penalties at Barbourfields, where Ngwenya denied Tulani Joseph and Michael Charamba, while Donovan Bernard struck the crossbar.
Brendon Rendo was Chicken Inn’s only successful taker.
Highlanders converted all three of their kicks through Rainsome Pavari, Brighton Makopa and Mongameli Tshuma to complete a 3-1 shoot-out victory.
Bosso arrived at Emagumeni after a disrupted build-up. The players had refused to train even after receiving US$250 each towards outstanding salaries, raising their demand to US$500 per player before returning to work.
Coach Benjani Mwaruwari also fell ill and missed the match, leaving assistants Mkhokheli Dube and Bekithemba Ndlovu in charge.
Chicken Inn had the better of the opening half against a Highlanders side short of rhythm.
Charamba delivered a cross from the left in the 12th minute, but Junior Makunike was just short of making contact.
Andrew Mbeba later crossed into the box, but none of his teammates attacked the delivery. Tshuma provided most of Bosso’s invention with his movement and passing, although clear chances remained scarce.
Benjamin Adeogun almost gave Highlanders the lead on the stroke of half-time when he beat several defenders before firing narrowly over.
Chicken Inn continued to threaten after the break. Ngwenya made a low save to deny George Majika before keeping out another effort from Charamba.
Bosso responded with a penalty appeal after Itai Mabunu appeared to bring down Reason Sibanda inside the box.
Tshuma later released Adeogun, who put the ball into the net, but the effort was ruled out for offside. Chicken Inn played the closing stages with 10 men after Tyrese Hikupembe was sent off in the 79th minute, but Highlanders could not find a winner before the shoot-out.
Chicken Inn coach Tonderai Ndiraya felt Ngwenya’s previous spell within the Gamecocks’ system may have helped him against their penalty takers.
“It’s a difficult one to take. Penalty shoot-outs come down to the confidence of the players,” said Ndiraya.
“We had some experienced players taking penalties, but they missed. The Highlanders goalkeeper was also once part of our system, and I guess he knew how some of these guys were going to take their penalties.”
Mwaruwari’s son, Benjani Junior, was also introduced during the match.
Dube dedicated the victory to the ailing Bosso coach, who celebrated his birthday during the week.
“I would like to say happy belated birthday to Benjani Mwaruwari. This week was his birthday, and we want to dedicate this victory to him,” said Dube.
“As you saw, he was not here today because he is not feeling well. We went to see him at the hospital in the morning, and we wish him a speedy recovery.
“Hopefully, he will be with us in the dugout on Wednesday.”
