By Zim Sport Live Writer
Harare giants Dynamos won their first Castle Challenge Cup title after 5 – 3 penalty shootout win over reigning league champions Simba Bhora in a rainsocked tie at Rufaro Stadium on Saturday.
The two teams had played a one all stalemate after extra time with Isheanesu Mauchi opening the scoring for Simba Bhora before a late equaliser by Clive Mandivei for the Glamour Boys.
Last year, Dynamos lost 2 – 0 to then league champions Ngezi Platinum Stars in a competition which marks the beginning of the local league season.
It was a battle of two teams who were deserted by a lot of players during the off-season despite winning silverware last season.
Dynamos keeper Prince Tafiremutsa saved Ishmael Nyanhi’s spot kick in the shootout to ensure that the Lloyd Chigowe coached side got their season to a triumphant start.
It was substitute Abel Gwatidzo who hit the winning spot kick to make sure that the Harare giants celebrate.
Temptation Chiunga, Emmanuel Jalai, Donald Dzvinyai, Mandivei were the other Dynamos players who successfully converted their penalty kicks.
For Simba Bhora, Blessing Moyo, Harrison Masina and Never Tigere converted before Nyanhi buckled under the weight of expectations.
Chigowe was delighted with the victory and hoed that the team will carry the same momentum into the league season.
“In any game of football you play, you always want to be a winner. It’s a good start for us and let’s hope we maintain the same momentum throughout the season. When you play for Dynamos you must be made of steel and I think the mentality will come right as it proved to be coming right today,” he said.
Simba Bhora coach Joel Luphahla, who was Chigowe’s assistant last season when DeMabre won the Chibuku Super Cup was full of praise for his side despite the penalty lottery loss.
“Penalties can go either way, unfortunately today it didn’t go our side. But basically I’m very happy with what I saw from my boys. Its the first game of the new season, the legs are still heavy from the preseason but from we saw, we can build from this game going forward. I’m happy that we have had this game which help us prepare going forward. It’s always painful to lose a cup final. We would have wanted to win it but we didn’t. Still I’m taking pride from my players performance, knowing that we are going to do better in the next game,” he told journalists after the match.
Dynamos, who had Valentine Kadonzvo missing a controversial penalty on 62nd minute, was handed a trophy and a US$30 000 cheque for winning the match while the runners-up received a US$20 000 consolation.
The two teams are the country’s representatives on the African Safari with Simba Bhora looking to impress in their maiden Caf Champions League campaign while Dynamos have unfinished business in the Caf Confederation Cup after they came within 20 minutes of reaching the lucrative group stages before a penalty shootout defeat to Botswana side Orapa United.