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MAYBE, it’s about time we all start to respect MaBlanyo.
Lloyd Chigowe is a winner and he deserves respect.
The unassuming gaffer guided Dynamos to success in the Chibuku Super Cup at Rufaro on Sunday – his first major silverware as a coach.
DeMbare needed another late goal, and success in the penalty shootout, to win the tournament for the second straight year.
And, just like last year, they beat Ngezi Platinum Stars in the final. The Glamour Boys needed a late goal, and success in the lottery, to beat Manica Diamonds in the semi-finals at the same venue.
DeMbare played all their matches in the Chibuku Super Cup at home at Rufaro.
The victory means they will return to the CAF Confederation Cup next season while Simba Bhora will play in the Champions League.
MaBlanyo has largely been used as someone who comes in when there is a crisis at Dynamos.
But, he has shown that he is a good coach and to succeed, in the chaos that has been engulfing Dynamos, is a testament of how good he is.
The final produced two goals in regulation time and this brought the tally to 38 goals.
Four players- Emmanuel Paga (Dynamos), Tymon Machope (Simba Bhora), Charles Teguru (Manica Diamonds) and Farai Madhananga (Ngezi Platinum Stars) – scored two goals each for their clubs to finish as the competition’s joint top goal scorers.
Godknows Murwira (CAPS United) and Donald Mudadi of Dynamos were shown red cards during the tournament.
To book their way into the semi-final Simba Bhora needed a Premier Soccer League (PSL) boardroom decision that saw them being awarded their match against Highlanders on a 3-0 scoreline.
Referee Cecil Gwezera blew to end the match after a 30-minute stoppage as Highlanders and captain Ariel Sibanda refused to take his position in goal for the dubious penalty to be taken.
There had been a five-minute stoppage before the penalty decision following skirmishes on the terraces.
And when play resumed it only lasted two minutes as Gwezera awarded a penalty to Simba Bhora for an incident that took place outside the box, according to even television replays.
Peter Muduhwa and substitute Tinashe Balakasi collided outside the box but the striker threw himself into the box, deceiving the badly positioned referee in the process.
This resulted in the stoppage as Highlanders players first protested and then walked away to their bench. And when they returned moments later, captain and goalkeeper Sibanda refused to take his position in goal as Gwezera also did not return to the penalty area.
After a 14-minute stoppage, the match officials summoned the two captains to try and map the way forward. (@H-Metro)
Online Reporter