Chronicle Editor
Fungai Muderere at Bata Stadium in Gweru
Black Rhinos 0-3 Ngezi Platinum Stars
NGEZI Platinum Stars are still poised for the local football league and cup double after they managed to get a Chibuku Super Cup final berth when they thumped Black Rhinos in a semi-final match at Bata Stadium in Gweru yesterday.
It was a game of two halves that saw the Mhondoro-based Premier Soccer League log leaders manage to turn on the power in the second-half and overcome a determined army side. Rhinos had a brilliant show in the first-half with Evans Katema, Garikai Dematshika and Lot Chiwunga asking a lot of questions from the miners rearguard only to be let down by the final touch in the last third of the pitch.
However, against the run of play, ex-Chicken Inn midfielder Malvin Gaki, grabbed the first goal for the Takesure Chiragwi-mentored miners, courtesy of his 51st minute well taken grounder that beat Rhinos goalminder Lenon Gonese on his right side.
This was after the Rhinos defence had failed to emphatically clear their lines allowing the predatory Gaki to pounce. Thereafter, substitutes Marvin Kwinjo and Claude Mapoka, who were brought in for ineffective Bruno Mtigo and Tinotenda Murasirawina respectively, weighed in with the Ngezi’s second and third goals to kill the match as a contest.
“I thank God for what we have achieved. I believe in God, all this has come through hard work and I’m very happy for the job well done by the players. We beat a very good side that was unfortunate not to score a single goal. We got our chances and we buried them,” said an ecstatic Chiragwi amid song and dance from the club’s followers and players.
Last year, Black Rhinos narrowly missed on a Chibuku Super Cup final qualification and yesterday they were obviously looking for better fortunes.
“It’s so painful to lose in such a way. We really wanted to go and represent the country in Africa but we are out. We need to dust ourselves and regain our confidence,” said dejected Rhinos gaffer Saul Chaminuka.
Black Rhinos were last season knocked out of the country’s premier knockout tournament via a penalty shoot-out lottery by eventual winners Bulawayo Chiefs.
The army side lost 5-4 after the match had ended nil all in regulation time.
The competition reverted to the traditional knockout format from the preliminary round this season.
In the previous edition, that acted as a warm-up tournament to the 2021/22 season, the 18 topflight teams were grouped into four groups, with the top two sides progressing to the quarter-finals.
Free spending Ngezi Platinum won the Chibuku Super Cup in 2016 and came close to reclaiming it in 2019 and 2021 when they lost 5-3 on penalties to the league’s defending champions FC Platinum.
Ngezi Platinum who are leading the championship race, are chasing a double and will be looking to get at least a cup in a season they have been on top of their game under the guidance of Chiragwi.
The Chibuku Cup provides winners a ticket to represent the country in the Confederation of African
Football (Caf) Confederations Cup.
The final will be played on 3 December in Mhondoro Ngezi.
Last year, Bulawayo Chiefs got the better of Herentals College to clinch the Chibuku Cup in a final that was played at Barbourfields Stadium.
It was Chiefs’ first major trophy since their promotion into the Premier Soccer League in 2018.
Bulawayo Chiefs got their all-important goal through Arthur Musiyiwa’s long-range shot from outside the box.
Bulawayo Chiefs and Herentals were playing in the final for the first time since joining Zimbabwe’s topflight football a few seasons ago. Chiefs pocketed US$75 000 for their achievement while the runners-up received US$50 000.
Teams
Black Rhinos: L Gonese, C Nyakope, G Saunyama, T Machisa, D Mutirunzunze, D Mbewe, D Garikai (Gahadzikwa 75th minute), K Nyakudanga, V Katsande, L Chiwunga, E Katema (Chikwerengwe 58th minute)
Ngezi Platinum Stars: M Chang, K Chigwida, P Moyo, M Gaki ( Kashitigu 58th minute), B Mtigo ( Kwinjo 58th minute), A Amini (Mweha (70th minute), T Murasirawina (Mapoka 46th minute), T Benhura, G Madhake, M Mukumba, F Madhanaga
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