adminTakudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter
MUSHOWANI STARS and Black Mambas booked their places in the Yadah TV knock-out semi-finals at the weekend after some impressive displays. Madziva-based Mushowani Stars got the better of hosts Lake Harvest whom they dismissed 3-1 at Nyamhunga in Kariba on Saturday while Black Mambas won 4-3 on penalties against fellow seasoned campaigners Flame Lily at Chinhoyi yesterday.
Mushowani Stars showed character despite playing away from home and managed to book a date with World Navi Northern Region Division One log leaders Gunners while Mambas will face Clifton “Somalia’’ Kaudurira’s Ngezi Platinum in another semi final.
Mushowani Stars coach Paul “Popopo” Chimalizeni said he was happy to have reached the semi-finals and is now fancying his team’s chances of going all the way to become inaugural winners of the competition.
“We had a good game and we played a youthful side which gave us challenge but we are happy we are through. We will shift focus to the league for a while but we are hoping to go through all the way to the finals.
“The team showed character especially in the second half and we managed to win the encounter,” Chimalizeni said. Flame Lily coach Nesbert “Yabo” Saruchera who gambled by fielding a largely second string side against former Premiership outfit side Black Mambas defended his decision arguing that it was their policy to rotate players.
But the former Black Rhinos’ gaffer’s gamble backfired as it was Mambas who prevailed to the last four.
“It was a matter of giving other players a chance but we were unfortunate as we lost through some penalties.
“We were giving some players who did not have opportunity to play a chance and they gave the opponents a good challenge which was good for us. “We played the guys who do not usually have game time and they did their best despite us losing the match. Penalties are always tricky as it will be anyone’s game we did not just utilize our opportunities,” Saruchera said.
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter