Tadious Manyepo Zimpapers Sports Hub
CAPS United 1-1 Highlanders
(Highlanders won 3-1 on penalties)
HIGHLANDERS set up a Chibuku Super Cup final showdown against Hardrock after rallying late to win this semifinal in a typical smash-and-grab fashion at Rufaro yesterday.
The Bulawayo giants looked down and out with only eight minutes on the clock after being pegged back by a Davison Marowa’s 61st-minute strike.
But substitute Reason Sibanda planted a firm header at the back post to force penalties from which substitute goalkeeper Reward Muza carried Bosso on his shoulders.
What made Muza’s heroics more significant was the fact that he was never brought in to save the penalties but had to be subbed on because Arron Ngwenya couldn’t continue after picking up an injury 12 minutes before time.
In his own admission, Muza didn’t have so much pressure over his head when facing CAPS United takers.
Then he went down twice to thwart Nyasha Gurende and Alleny Mukombedzi’s efforts while Obriel Chirinda strangely skied his own effort. Only Lloyd Njaliwa, who as usual had a good game, managed to beat Muza.
Bosso, to their credit, didn’t have any problems slicing home their portions with Rainsome Pavari, Isaac Ngoma and Mongameli Tshuma hitting the bull’s eye.
It was particularly painful for Makepekepe, who, for the 10th year running, will once again finish the term empty-handed after also surrendering a 2-0 lead in the quarter-finals of the Munhumutapa Cup to FC Hunters recently.
It was particularly painful to lose in such a manner for the Green Machine, who effectively dug their own grave by withdrawing to their shell and defending too deep after taking the lead.
Once Marowa rifled into the roof of the net from inside the box, coach Takesure Chiragwi poured in fresh legs in Mukombedzi, Junior Bunjira and Precious Phiri.
But that reduced their attacking options, especially with playmaker Kundai Benyu also withdrawn.
The more Highlanders penetrated them with Tshuma central to all the forays, the more they gained momentum and they bombarded the CAPS United area profusely.
In one of those adventures, Bosso earned a freekick which Andrew Mbeba flighted in and Sibanda suspended himself in the air higher than the rest to squeeze in the equaliser.
“When we conceded, we kept on believing,” said Mbeba.
“It was a tense match which we desperately needed to win because we lost both our league games to CAPS United this season.
“Our coach (Benjani Mwaruwari) kept on reminding us to press on and on.
“We kept the belief and here we are. When I took the free kick, I knew Reason Sibanda would outjump everyone because that’s what he does.
“The only question was whether he would be able to beat the CAPS United goalkeeper.
“Then he did. Momentum shifted and the same momentum was the one we went to the penalties carrying. It’s good we won.”
Bosso will face Hardrock in the final at Chahwanda on November 28.
It is the second time in seven years that Highlanders will play in the final of the Chibuku Super Cup after winning the prize in 2019 by beating Ngezi Platinum at Barbourfields.
It is Highlanders’ chance to grab a trophy in an indifferent season in which they were rocked by player sit-ins due to irregular salary payments.
But for the Green Machine, yesterday’s defeat was devastating and a stab to the expectations of their fans especially after the club had invested a lot at the start of the season.
“It’s disappointing,” Chiragwi said.
That’s the apt way to describe it all.
It can’t be more than disappointing for a team that had all the resources to end the season without anything to show for it.
The pain in the faces of CAPS United players told a story.
They betrayed not only the team and their passionate fans but themselves as well.
Yet they never tried hard, especially yesterday.
“They never showed that hunger on a day they knew they were fighting for what was their last chance at getting an opportunity to win a medal this year.
Several times, they rushed their efforts. Several times they were casual. They never really won the second ball.
They gave Tshuma too much respect.
And the result was what their lack of effort deserved.
Teams
CAPS United: Victor James, Kudzai Chigwida, Nyasha Gurende, Richard Hachiro, Talent
Chamboko (Precious Phiri 61min), Lloyd Njaliwa, Kundai Benyu (Kunashe Chando
70min), Takunda Benhura (Alleny Mukombedzi 61min), Davison Marowa (Junior Bunjira
61min), Ishmael Wadi, Obriel Chirinda
Highlanders: Aron Ngwenya (Reward Muza 78min), Mongameli Tshuma, Kudakwashe
Mahachi, Andrew Mbeba, Rainsome Pavari, Tawanda M Shenje, Never Rauzhi (Royn
Nyamono 63min), Akim Nkomo (Shelton Moyo 63min), Darlington Mukuli (Reason
Sibanda 78min), Isaac Ngoma, Lawrence Mhlanga
