Monoz eye victory in maiden cup final

His mandate at DeMbare was to fill the big shoes of Evans Gwekwerere who had left the club for South African Premiership side Moroka Swallows.

Gwekwerere had been such a big phenomenon at Dynamos and “Finger” as Nyamandwe was known to Kiglon Bird fans, was coming as a direct replacement.

But Nyamandwe buckled under a weight of expectations and never played to his full potential for the Glamour Boys.

The player was to retrace his footsteps back to Division One at Kiglon where he helped them to win the league championship in 2007 under Lloyd Mutasa.

Nyamandwe was the talisman for Kiglon in their debut season in Division One but in 2010, the giant striker joined Monomotapa.

The prospects of playing in the Champions League could not escape Nyamandwe as he joined Motor Action on loan in 2011 along Kuda Musharu.

Now the 28-year-old forward has rejoined Monomotapa and is today bracing for one of the biggest games in his career.

It’s also the first time that Monoz are playing in a cup final since their entry in the Premiership in 2005.

Yesterday Nyamandwe was taking it easy and their team checked into the hotel ahead of the Mbada Diamonds Cup final against Dynamos at Rufaro today.

Nyamandwe has not been in action for the past two weeks because of an ankle injury but his coach Biggie Zuze said the player was available for what promises to be a befitting grand finale to the season.

Nyamandwe is one of the most experienced players at Monomotapa and is well aware of the expectations from the Monoz camp.

This season Monomotapa have charmed the hearts of many neutrals with their brand of passing football and have been rewarded with a place in the Caf Confederations Cup next year, irrespective of the result today.

In the first half of the season, Nyamandwe’s lone strike condemned Dynamos to a 1-0 defeat.

Nyamandwe’s effort gave Monoz the lead in the reverse fixture on 4 November before DeMbare overcame the setback with goals from Simba Sithole and Roderick Mutuma.

But today’s game is a cup final and it’s coming as a new game.

Nyamandwe believes that he learnt a thing or two about the institution called Dynamos during his brief stay at the team and that knowledge should come handy today.

While it’s the first time that Monomotapa are playing in a major PSL cup final, Nyamandwe is playing in his second Mbada Diamonds Cup final in as many years.

“Last year I played in the same final when I was at Motor Action and we missed on the silverware.

“Now we are looking forward to a win,” said Nyamandwe.

Nyamandwe will be hoping to form a lethal partnership force with Musharu who also took the loser’s medal last year.

Monoz skipper Brian Mapfumo has also refused to be bullied by Dynamos’ illustrious history and rallied his troops to upset the apple cart.

Monomotapa also have 2012 Soccer Star of the Year finalist Ronald Chitiyo and Osborne Mukuradare who could cause all sorts of trouble for Dynamos with their probing.