adminrivals Dynamos in the Mbada Diamonds Cup at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday.
Makepekepe succumbed to a 73rd minute strike from Archford Gutu, which was aided into the nets by defender David Sengu’s boot, as he attempted to clear the lines.
However, Gwekwerere, who was one of the few players to illuminate a poor Harare Derby that never exploded on a terrible pitch at the giant stadium, believes a draw could have been a fair result in regulation time.
Concern continues to be raised about the bumpy pitch at the giant stadium and it never made the players comfortable as the awkward bounce of the ball contributed a lot to the poor game that was displayed.
Interestingly, even the Warriors struggled on that poor pitch in their 3-0 win over Liberia and were a far cry from the team that had played with fluency in their previous two games against Mali and Zambia.
Both CAPS United and Dynamos had come into the big game on the back of an impressive run but the highlights never materialised and, for the fourth time this season, DeMbare managed a smash-and-grab exercise on their biggest rivals.
“The match itself wasn’t that tense but I think we gave it away easily,” said Gwekwerere.
“I thought the game would go all the way to a penalty shootout because we had done well.
“In the end we conceded an unfortunate goal. The defenders were not at the right place when the ball was played into the box and we conceded a soft goal.
“It pains to lose that way.”
But Gwekwerere came out of the Derby with his head held high, even though he played for the losing team, after a display full of commitment in which he gave the DeMbare defenders a lot of tough moments.
“I knew what I was doing and I had enough confidence to take the defenders on,” said Gwekwerere.
“I always like playing against Dynamos because it’s one of the games many people wait for all the year with great interest no matter how many times the teams meet.
“Obviously we would have loved to go all the way but cup games are like that. That one moment and we are out.
“It’s even no longer important talking about it because we now have to focus on the league competitions and our next game against Motor Action.”
Dynamos will now progress to the quarter-finals where they meet a plucky Shooting Stars who prevailed 1-0 over Hwange, courtesy of Francis Kanda’s late strike at Barbourfields on Saturday.
With Jostein Mathuthu installed as the head of the Wild Boys’ technical staff, they can be a match to anyone as Hwange will probably testify.
PSL chief executive Kenny Ndebele yesterday said venues for the quarter-finals were still to be decided but confirmed that the matches will be played over the weekend of October 23-24.
Premiership kings and BancABC champions Motor Action also pulled through to the last eight when they rallied from a goal down to edge Monomotapa 2-1 at Sakubva.
Midfielder Allen Gahadzikwa saved the day for the Mighty Bulls with a double, which cancelled out Russel Madamombe’s strike, and set a date against Misheck Chidzambwa’s Blue Ribbon.
“We are all excited because we thought we were finished when they went into the lead,” said Gahadzikwa.
“But we have learnt that teamwork brings results and we all refused to throw in the towel until the goals came.”
The midfielder made it three goals, in his last two cup games for the Mighty Bulls, after scoring the winner in the BancABC Sup8r Cup final against Highlanders.
Blue Ribbon were the biggest winners of the first round matches after thrashing Shabanie Mine 4-0.
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Felix Kuswatuka grabbed a brace while Erea Phiri and Charles Rukwanhi weighed in with a goal each.
FC Platinum edged Black Mambas 1-0 courtesy of Menard Mupera’s goal from the penalty spot to line up a quarter-final duel with Moses Chunga’s exciting Gunners, who beat Masvingo 2-0 at Nyamhunga in Kariba
Relegation candidates Zimbabwe Saints and Kiglon were the surprise packages from the first round and they will meet in the last eight after causing upsets.
Saints beat Highlanders 6-5 after a penalty shootout while Kiglon were 3-1 winners over Chicken Inn.
Nelson Mazivisa scored a brace and Last Chibwiro finished off their opponents in the second half.
Kiglon coach Maxwell Takaendesa Jongwe was so relieved, after securing this priceless win, that he somersaulted twice, in his suit, on the Mucheke pitch as he celebrated the victory.
Mbada Diamonds Cup quarter-finalists
Motor Action v Blue Ribbon, FC Platinum v Gunners, Dynamos v Shooting Stars, Zimbabwe Saints v Kiglon
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Saturday
CAPS United v Motor Action (National Sports Stadium), Blue Ribbon v FC Platinum (Rufaro), Black Mambas v Highlanders (Morris Depot), Gunners v Masvingo (Larfarge), Shooting Stars v Hwange (Gwanzura)
Sunday
Zimbabwe Saints v Chicken Inn (White City), Shabanie Mine v Kiglon (Maglas), Dynamos v Monomotapa (Rufaro)
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