Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo in CHIREDZI
EMMANUEL JALAI could captain Dynamos for one last time at Gibbo this afternoon and he will be eager to make it memorable.
The roving defender leads the Glamour Boys into the Chibuku Super Cup final battle against Triangle.
He knows that by winning, DeMbare could rub off what has largely been a disastrous season for them in which they survived relegation only on the final day of the term.
The Chibuku Super Cup is also the country’s biggest football knock-out competition and Dynamos have won it in the last two years and will become the first team to claim a hat-trick of titles should they find a way to beat Triangle for a rare win at Gibbo.
And it will be an ideal farewell for Jalai who is reported to be on his way to league champions Scottland.
The 2025 Soccer Star of the Year finalist has had an outstanding year for both club and country.
And he will be keen to lift the Chibuku Super Cup before boarding the Scottland ship which is headed for the CAF Champions League.
There is also reported interest on Jalai’s signature from some South African clubs.
He, however, couldn’t be drawn into that conversation but he made it no secret that he wants to lead Dynamos to the Chibuku Super Cup glory.
“First of all, thank you very much. I would like to thank everyone who has voted for me. It is an honour to receive such recognition considering the talent that we have here in Zimbabwe.
“Going into the final after receiving such recognition is a huge motivation for me as a player,’’ Jalai said.
“We have to do our best and defend our title.
“Yeah, a final is always a final. We have to do our best considering that we are playing a final and we are playing a tricky side in the mould of Triangle.
“But we have to do our best. We are the champions and we have to do what it takes for us to defend the title.”
Dynamos have always struggled to win when playing Triangle at Gibbo.
And Jalai has stressed about the need for the Glamour Boys to carry a great deal of extra mental strength going into this definer.
“We know we have a lot of youngsters who will be playing in this match for the first time. That’s why we are here as one of the senior guys to help the youngsters.
“What is key is just to put in the effort in the final because in the end, there has to be a winner.
“So, we will do our best to help them, for them to feel comfortable to play the final.
“Like I said, it’s a tricky team considering the way they’ve been performing of late in the league.
“But like I said, it’s a final. It will all depend on who wants it on the day.
“We are hoping and praying that we’ll be the best team on the day.”
He believes the mentality of the players will pay a key role in deciding the destiny of the 2025 title.
“Yeah, we just have to prepare ourselves mentally and physically.
“This is a final. It’s different from the league game.
“And like I said, at the end, there has to be a winner. We will do our best to turn over the bad side of the record of playing at Gibbo,’’ added Jalai.
Goalkeeper Prince Tafiremutsa insisted Dynamos were ready for the final despite the industrial action that derailed their preparations.
“I think this whole week we were working hard for the final.
“We are up for it. That’s all I can say.
“I think since the start of the season, we were just motivating each other. That’s our motto.”
Triangle will be hoping to win this one on home turf again, seven years after winning the Chibuku Super Cup by beating Harare City at Gibbo in 2018.
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