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‘Big’ Zuze basks in glory

Sport
TRIANGLE FC coach Biggie Zuze is a man certainly on cloud nine after succeeding where many a team have fallen, beating Harare football giants Dynamos in the One Wallet Cup on Sunday at the National Sports Stadium (NSS).

TRIANGLE FC coach Biggie Zuze is a man certainly on cloud nine after succeeding where many a team have fallen, beating Harare football giants Dynamos in the One Wallet Cup on Sunday at the National Sports Stadium (NSS).

TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

The win came with an $80 000 cheque while Dynamos took home $50 000. Triangle’s Kabby Kamhapa was named the man of the match.

While he has been under pressure over Castle Lager Premier Soccer League results, which have left Triangle in the relegation zone, he is certain to have a good night’s sleep this week, what with a vote of confidence coming from his boss Lovemore Matikinyidze.

Sunday’s 4-3 victory in the penalty shootout made Triangle the second team to beat Dynamos in a cup match at the NSS after Caps United booted them (Dynamos) out of the ZNA Commander’s Charity Shield semi-final.

Triangle also join Buffaloes and ZPC Kariba (1-0) as the only teams to have beaten the Harare giants at the same venue this year.

The final had been billed as one-sided, with everyone pointing to an obvious Dynamos victory, but things changed just after 19 minutes when Praise Tonha swung in a sweet free kick for Felix Kuswatuka to slam home.

Rodreck Mutuma levelled after 41 minutes and going into the second half, it all looked like Dynamos, known for playing much better in the second half of any game and grinding out a result, would run out the obvious winners.

But Triangle held for the remaining minutes of the second half and the 30 of extra time despite being a man short after Jimmy Dzingai was shown the red card for a second bookable offence on Cliff Sekete.

Tonha, Hillary Bakacheza, Ronald Mudimu and Tichaona Chipunza converted the spot kicks for Triangle while Tafadzwa Rusike and Thomas Magorimbo fell short for Dynamos.

Zuze said: “This is a good win for us. I would like to give credit to the players. You know what it is to play against Dynamos in a cup final, but they handled the pressure very well. They showed discipline throughout the 90 minutes. They didn’t give up despite being one man down. We won the match in midfield. This is my first silverware in my coaching career and I will cherish this forever.”

The Triangle gaffer believes the victory over Dynamos will give his charges confidence as league action resumes this weekend with a trip to Chicken Inn in Bulawayo.

“This is the victory we have been looking for to bring back confidence into the team. We hope this will be the turning point,” he added.

Matikinyidze said they were happy to win the One Wallet Cup, but refuted reports that they had given the coach an ultimatum over poor results.

“I am not aware of the ultimatum. What I know is that we have been going through a bad patch, but after winning the One Wallet Cup, I think it could be a sign of better times. If we can manage to maintain the momentum and remain focused, we can go to where we are supposed to be in the league,” said Matikinyidze

Triangle, who finished a credible eighth position in their maiden campaign, sit on 12th position on the league table with 27 points from 24 matches having won seven, drawn six and lost 11.

They lost their last two matches to Buffaloes and Harare City — results which had sparked speculation over the future of the coach. However, Zuze chose the perfect opportunity to silence his critics on Sunday.