adminAllen Khumalo, Sports Reporter
REBELS were crowned champions of the 59th edition of the Bulawayo Amateur Football Association (Bafa) Townshend and Butcher Tournament after beating Laduma 2-0 in yesterday’s final played at the Barbourfields Stadium outside grounds.
Goals from Tatenda Magaisa and Khalimani Ncube is all Rebels needed to clinch the trophy and a new kit. Laduma and third-placed United FC also got a full kit for their efforts.
The game got off to a lacklustre performance by both sides and there was nothing to write home about until the opening goal in the 17th minute by man-of-the-match Magaisa, who headed home Gary Nyathi’s corner kick.
Rebels had a great chance to extend their lead through a Nyathi corner but it was cleared off the line by Laduma captain Julian Banda.
Laduma had a chance to level matters in the 39th minute when Sipho Banda unleashed a powerful shot at the edge of the box, which was tipped over the bar by Rebels’ goalkeeper Luckmore Bunga.
Ncube then sealed Rebels’ victory when he raced through the Laduma defence to calmly beat Yusuf Chisara in goals for Laduma with a curler into the bottom corner of the net.
“I’m happy that we won, but this is not the game we expected from our opponents today considering they are second on the log and just four points behind us. We were hoping for a tougher match, but this is football and it was not their day,” said an elated Rebels’ coach Zwelibanzi Gumpo.
Gumpo said his side was not affected by last week’s league defeat and now that they had bagged the trophy, their focus is on a double.
Laduma coach Dominic Sibanda said: “I’m still shocked with what happened today. The boys just lost focus and failed to exploit the chances they created in the second half. This was not our usual game, but I am happy we came this far.”
Laduma’s Phikisani Moyo was the tournament’s top goal scorer with four while his teammate Bhekinkosi Ndlovu, who missed the final through injury, was crowned goalkeeper of the tournament for conceding the least number of goals.
Vipers FC were adjudged the most disciplined team. — khumzallen
Online Reporter