adminZimbabwe Select players were drawn from division One sides such as Black Rhinos and Chapungu while Zambia Army also got players from military teams such as Premiership side Green Buffaloes and other lower division sides.
The Black Rhinos forward`s brace in the fourth minute and three minutes after the restart and Victor Bandura’s goal eight minutes before fulltime saw the side which was captained by Phillip Marufu win the $6 000 prize money while the visitors got half the amount.
The former Dynamos player, Marufu, who is now at Chapungu and Muhoni, entertained the crowd which had thronged the giant facility for the Defence Forces Day celebrations.
The speedy winger Marufu showed why he became a household name and helped the Warriors lift the Cosafa on home soil in 2009 under Sunday Chidzambwa.
He gave the Zambian defenders a torrid time and from the first whistle the hosts were dominating and were duly rewarded when the former Caps United striker scored from the rebound after the Zambian goalkeeper had spilled.
Zimbabwe’s Lot Chiunga also had a goal disallowed for offside just before the breather after receiving a pass from Muhoni.
Three minutes after the restart, Muhoni found possession inside the box and packed a shot into the nets sending the crowd into frenzy.
Even though the second half was not as lively as the first period, Zimbabwe killed the match as a contest when Bandura left his marker for dead and fired into the nets.
Zambia Select only got two meaningful chances when veteran goalkeeper Britto Gwere forced two saves, a long range by defender Crispen Chipango in the first half and towards the end he blocked a shot by Peter Mutale as the visitors sought a face saver.
The match was played 35 minutes each half and after the final whistle Zimbabwe were handed the trophy by Minister of Defence Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Chapungu mentor John Nyikadzino was coaching Zimbabwe select and managed to have a few sessions with the players before the game.
He said he was happy that they prevailed over their neighbours and displayed a good game for the crowd.
“The guys really played well and I am happy with the performance. It was an exciting game and Zambia didn’t manage to create chances. There are some players who failed to feature in this game as they had club commitments but we would have wanted to use them as we have a big pool of good players from our army teams,” said Nyikadzino.
Teams
Zimbabwe: Britto Gwere, Charles Murisa, Tichaona Munyen’enyi, Mathew Mahala, Pascal Shonhai, Ranga Sibanda (Martin Mine 42nd minute), Walter Masenda, Lot Chiunga (Victor Bandura 42nd minute), Brighton Chandisaita, Philip Marufu, Lazarus Muhoni.
Zambia: Isaac Chilenga, Crispen Chipango (Andrew Phiri 55th minute), Joseph Zimba, Sydney Lombe, Ennex Masiya, Obrey Lusambo, Kequinn Masakanya, Allen Busiku, Jeff Kapelwa, Morgan Hanjema (Brian Kembo 55th minute), Peter Mutale.
Online Reporter