HIGHLANDERS are the winners of the second edition of the Benjani Mwaruwari Under-16 Youth Festival after beating Bantu Rovers 3-2 in a penalty shoot-out in the football final played at White City Stadium yesterday.
REPORT BY FORTUNE MBELE
Bosso goalkeeper Brighton Zulu was the toast of the day after saving three Bantu Rovers penalties from Denzel Khumalo, Leslie Lunga and Mthabisi Tshuma. Brian Bhebhe, Gladman Bharibhari and Nkosana Ndlovu were on target in the lottery for Bosso, but Zulu, named Goalkeeper of the Tournament, missed his penalty while Donnnet Fosho’s effort was saved by Bantu Rovers’ goalkeeper Reward Muza.
The match had ended 1-1 in regulation time with Ndlovu scoring for Bosso while Lunga equalised for Bantu Rovers, both goals scored in the second half.
To reach the final, Bosso beat FMH 2-0 in the semi-final with Ndlovu, the joint Top Goal Scorer of the Tournament, grabbing a brace on Saturday while Bantu Rovers thumped Street Set 3-0 with goals coming from Sylvester Ndlovu, Khumalo and Tendai Nyandoro.
Highlanders coach Dumaza Dube was ecstatic about winning the tournament.
“I am quite happy. It gives us the way forward. It shows we can build from scratch because I recruited these boys this year. My hope is that they make it into the senior team,” Dube said.
The individual award winners Zulu, Nkosana Ndlovu and the other Top Goal Scorer Zibusiso Tshuma from Magwegwe Secondary School and Player of the Tournament Denzel Khumalo, were given shields for their effort and have the luck of having their school fees paid for by Mwaruwari for the third term at their respective schools.
