adminSikhumbuzo Moyo in BULAWAYO
WITH the third edition of the Mbada Diamonds Cup final just about a few hours from exploding into life at Barbourfields tomorrow, former Dynamos striker Rodreck Mutuma stands alone as the only player to have scored in the showcase match.Mutuma, who was the 2011 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Golden Boot winner with 14 goals, remains the only player in the history of the country’s premier knockout tournament to have scored in two finals of the tournament.
Now at Absa Premiership in South Africa with Bloemfontein Celtic, Mutuma scored in the inaugural final when the Glamour Boys beat Motor Action 1-0 in 2011.
Last year, the former Quelaton forward scored a brace as DeMbare emerged 2-0 winners over Monomotapa who were relegated this season.
That record, though, has only a few hours left before it goes up in smoke with How Mine and league title bridesmaids Highlanders set to clash in a potentially explosive all-Bulawayo Cup final at Barbourfields tomorrow.
Whoever scores in the final, in regulation time, will join Mutuma in exclusive company.
Highlanders’ speed merchant Gabriel Nyoni is still in the running for the tournament’s fastest goal as well as the Top Goal-scorer Award unless someone else scores within the first two minutes in tomorrow’s final.
The National University of Science and Technology marketing student scored in the second minute in their first round match against Triangle.
He is also the tournament’s leading marksman with two goals which coincidentally were scored in the same match.
For the fastest goal, the recipient will take home US$500 with a trophy and US$1 000 will be reserved for the striker with the most lethal boots.
Winners of the lucrative tournament will receive US$130 000 in prize money and a ticket to the Caf Confederations Cup competition with the diamond mining company availing US$110 000 as a subsidy.
However, Highlanders are already out following an embarrassing administrative boob by Zifa chief executive, Jonathan Mashingaidze, who registered the Bulawayo giants without their consent in 2011.
How Mine are reportedly not eager to invade Africa unless they make a last minute change of heart.
“We stand guided by the Premier Soccer League in terms of who will be participating in the Confederations Cup but our thrust is to have Zimbabwean teams participating in international competitions,” said Mbada Diamonds Cup organising committee chairman Tafadzwa Chiremba during a press conference at a Bulawayo hotel yesterday.
Online Reporter