HIGHLANDERS coach Kelvin Kaindu threatened to quit following what he termed “poor treatment” from match officials after his team lost to Dynamos in yesterday’s Independence Trophy final at the National Sports Stadium.
Report by Tawanda Tafirenyika
Dynamos……(1) 1 Highlanders…….0
Kaindu was livid after the sending off of striker Njabulo Ncube which he said influenced the result.
Dynamos captain Murape Murape bellied his rather advanced age to score the only goal that helped the champions beat old foes Highlanders to the Independence Trophy on an afternoon of nail-biting tension.
The victory, before a heaving National Sports Stadium, gave coach Kalisto Pasuwa’s men a psychological advantage ahead of the two teams’ clash in a Castle Lager Premiership tie at Rufaro on Sunday.
Highlanders have this season failed to defeat Dynamos in three meetings after they were beaten in a two-legged Bob 89 Super Cup back in February.
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Crucially, the win comes as a relief to the Dynamos family after a bad spell in which they had gone for a four-match winless streak. However, both teams fielded second string sides as they rested key players ahead of the Sunday match.
Highlanders finished the match with 10 men after Njabulo Ncube, a second half substitute, was shown the red card by referee Luke Kunaka for headbutting Gift Bello in an off-the-ball incident on 77 minutes.
The Bulawayo giants dominated the better part of the match carving out good chances which could have seen them seal the contest, but their front runners fluffed a number of chances.
Beaven Chikaka was the chief culprit and missed with a wild effort nine minutes into the match after racing clear of the Dynamos defence.
A minute later Cleopas Dube forced Dynamos goalkeeper Artwell Mukandi into a fine save after he won possession in the penalty box.
Dynamos also had a chance on 11 minutes only for Tichaona Mabvura’s thunderous shot to miss the target narrowly.
As Highlanders continued with their raids, Dube missed a headed opportunity with Mukandi superbly saving his effort on 13 minutes.
Still Highlanders bombarded the Dynamos goal, but their attackers either missed target or were denied by the impressive DeMbare goalkeeper.
Hillary Madzivanyika also missed a chance for Highlanders, shooting wide off target after winning possession on 28 minutes.
But on 35 minutes Highlanders thought they had finally got the goal when Chikaka coolly chested a high ball in the penalty box before rifling home, but the assistant referee flagged for offside.
Murape then summoned his experience on 41 minutes as he beat an offside trap by the Highlanders defence to fire the ball into the nets with his left foot from an acute angle.
The turning point was when Ncube, who replaced Knox Mtizwa in the 61st minute, was sent off for an off-the-ball incident with 12 minutes from full time.
Dynamos appeared to enjoy territorial advantage as they continued to probe the Highlanders defence. Still the Bulawayo champions refused to throw in the towel and Chikaka fluffed a chance shooting wide seven minutes from time after Dube’s intended shot at goal deflected into his path.
“We wanted to win this cup. This victory has eased pressure on us as we prepare for the Sunday game,” Pasuwa said.
