dyton mupawaenda
Tadious Manyepo-Zimpapers Sports Hub
DYNAMOS and Ngezi Platinum Stars are set to battle for supremacy and a ticket to the CAF Confederation Cup in a high-stakes Chibuku Super Cup final at Rufaro this afternoon.
It’s a repeat fixture from last year where the Glamour Boys emerged 2-0 winners in their first appearance in the final of this tournament at Baobab Stadium.
That whoever wins it joins an exclusive league of Chibuku Super Cup double winners that has only Harare City and FC Platinum makes today’s showdown a never to miss duel.
The winner will also earn the licence to represent the country in the CAF Confederation Cup next year.
Both teams participated in the African Safari this year with Ngezi Platinum playing in the CAF Champions League and DeMbare taking part in the CAF Confederation Cup.
With the CAF Champions League slot keys already taken by Simba Bhora who won the league title this year, only a single ticket is available for both in this afternoon’s contest.
Dynamos coach Lloyd “Mablanyo” Chigowe was about to script a fairytale of his own in the CAF Confederation Cup when coming within minutes of reaching the group stages before being eliminated by Botswana side Orapa United on penalties in the second preliminary round.
And he said he was always plotting to win the Chibuku Super Cup, especially with the Glamour Boys limping in the league.
“The Chibuku Super Cup is our target. We have never minced our words in this regard. We started talking about it after the halfway stage of the season when we realised that the league would be a tall order for us,” said Chigowe.
“We angled to fight all the way in the Chibuku Super Cup and we are just 90 minutes away from glory.
“It will be a tough 90 minutes for both teams. But at the end of the day we know, as Dynamos this is the only chance to bring back smiles on our fans’ faces after we failed to assert ourselves in the league.
“My boys are buoyant. It’s the last game of the season, an all-important match for them as individuals as well as the institution.
“This game is important if you look at it as it will also take us back to the African Safari.”
It will be a match between two coaches who have never won the Chibuku Super Cup before.
While Ngezi Platinum won the 2016 tournament, current gaffer Takesure Chiragwi wasn’t at the helm and when Dynamos won it last year, Chigowe was an assistant to Genesis Mangombe.
With three failed attempts to win their second trophy in the past five years, Ngezi Platinum will be hoping to finally get it right today.
Chigowe has since acknowledged that Ngezi Platinum have the best squad in terms of quality in the league and they would come at them with a lot of ambition.
“In terms of assembling of squads, I should say Ngezi Platinum have probably the best team in the league.
“But on match days, it’s always 11 versus 11.
“In this case, it will be our best 11 versus theirs and what will count is the decision either of us make in the field of play,” added Chigowe.
“Obviously Ngezi Platinum would like to atone for their loss at the Turf (Baobab) they suffered last year.
“They will come at us but it’s good also that we fight their ambition with ours.”
Ngezi have reached the most finals out of the lot in this tournament after winning it in 2016 and coming second-best in 2019, 2021 and last year.
With a single piece each, either the Mhondoro miners or Dynamos will join Harare City and FC Platinum who are the only teams to have won the prize twice.
Ngezi Platinum Stars captain Qadr Amini is eager to see his team laying their hands on the trophy.
“It’s always difficult playing against Dynamos at Rufaro, worst still in a cup final,” he said.
“But we will be in Harare for serious business. I have personally played in three finals without success in this same tournament.
“Players like Polite Moyo, Nelson Chadya, Chang Marion, Kudzai Chigwida, Malvin Kwinjo and Takunda Benhura, among others have played in each of those finals and gotten frustrated.
“It is us players who should change the script. We are ready to do so.”
The final will be preceded by top-notch entertainment by arguably Zimbabwe’s best musician Alick Macheso who will light up the stage for the super contest from 12pm.
