Former Warriors and Highlanders coach Madinda Ndlovu’s dream of getting his second piece of silverware with Botswana’s beMobile League outfit Mochudi Centre Chiefs went up in smoke when his side lost 4-2 on penalties in the final of the Coca-Cola Cup at UB Stadium on Sunday.
The game had been goalless in regulation time and the Coca-Cola Cup went into penalties with Gaborone United winning.
The defeat saw Mochudi Centre Chiefs losing out on P500 000 prize money.
Ndlovu clinched the league title with Mochudi Centre Chiefs in May, but surprisingly lost the Coach Of the Year Title to BMC coach Daniel “Chicco” Nare. Mochudi Centre Chiefs won the league with four matches to spare.
It was Ndlovu’s first-ever league title and now joins his peers Rahman Gumbo and Moses Chunga, who have also won league titles. Gumbo, like another former Highlanders coach Roy Barreto, has won the league title home and abroad.
Barreto won at both Highlanders and Zimbabwe Saints before collecting the same accolade at Orlando Pirates in South Africa. Gumbo won with Highlanders, MTL Wanderers in Malawi and Township Rollers in Botswana.
Ndlovu and his charges cruised through to the final after Pontsho Moloi’s solitary goal against Township Rollers while Gaborone United reached the finals courtesy of goals from former AmaZulu striker Sageby Sandaka and Ronald Chikomo last week.
It was a good result for Gaborone who, according to media reports, had not lifted the Cup since its inception 21 years ago despite appearing in the final twice — and had also over the years struggled against lower division sides.
