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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS’ penalty which allowed them to equalise against Harare City in Saturday’s Mbada Cup semi-final has been described as legitimate by former Fifa panel referee Joseph Mususa. At that stage Bosso were 1-2 down in the first 30 minutes to the Bigboy Mawiwi coached side.
They were to equalise in the 32nd minute through a Munyaradzi Diya spotkick after Simon Munawa was brought down inside the box.
The penalty was hotly disputed by the Harare City players as well as some fans who were in the terraces who felt the incident did not warrant a penalty.
The referee, Hardly Ndazi who once again put up a top drawer performance and built a case for himself among the favourites for top official of the year stood by his decision and allowed Highlanders to take the kick which they converted to send the multitude of their travelling fans into a frenzy.
“It was a good call from the referee. The ball might have been outside the box but the incident happened inside the box while the ball was still inside the field of play. People might feel it was a rather soft penalty but he (Ndazi) did very well, it was a penalty,” said Mususa.
The penalty brought Highlanders back on level terms in an exciting semi-final match that many in the stadium felt was indeed a final before the final. Harare City’s goals were just marvelous although the first one exposed Diya’s weakness to manage his wall.
There was nothing that he could have done for the second goal, it was a sheer beauty from Crybet Muvuti who unleashed a dipping volley from just outside the box. Diya remained rooted on his line.
Meanwhile, there is no law that prohibits goalkeepers from removing their gloves during play like what Highlanders shot stopper Diya did just before Harare City’s David Kutyauripo took his spot. It was the miss that handed Bosso the ticket to the final, now almost certain that it will be at Barbourfields Stadium.
“The law is silent on that. Law Four talks of basic compulsory players equipment which is soccer boots, stockings, sheen pads, short and jersey, it does not talk of goalkeepers’ gloves. It’s an optional issue and in the case of the Mandava game it was a psychological issue and it worked in favour of Highlanders,” Mususa.
Diya, who was nursing an injury sustained during the 1-1 draw against Motor Action last Sunday, removed his gloves just before the Harare City’s fourth kick by Kutyauripo. When he did that the Highlanders supporters who were occupying the bay just behind the gate where penalties were taken, went into a delirium and blew their vuvuzelas in anticipation of a save, a save that did come.
“He did it against us in the 2011 quarter-final match when he was still at Zimbabwe Saints and I just felt perhaps that might work for us this time around,” said an elated Highlanders goalkeepers’ coach Tembo Chuma.
Chuma should work on freekicks as in two consecutive matches Diya has been found wanting.
Highlanders came back to level matters on two occasions. Holding midfielder Hillary Madzivanyika was crucial in containing the visitors’ linkmen and his injury inspired substitution was a blow to the Highlanders camp.
His replacement Mthulisi Maphosa did not stamp his authority and is probably the reason why the match had to go into a penalty shootout as he gave so much respect to the opponents. He was also not chasing back once he lost possession, something which he did on many occasions.
His composure though during the spotkicks showed a high level of expertise and maturity.
Highlanders’ levels of fitness were exposed as they found the going tough in the second half.
Online Reporter