17:45 – Platinum Score 6-5. Caps misses So it is Platinum and Dynamos in the final 17:43 – Katebe miss for Platinum Caps miss. Still 4-4 . 5-5 Caps score
17:41 – 2-1 Kamusoko 1-1 Mutuma equalised 2-2 Mukandi for caps 4-4 Now 3-2 Platinum score 3-3 Caps score
17:34 – We await the result from Mandava where Caps is playing Platinum and it still is 0-0. We are headed for the dreaded shootout at Mandava.
17:32 – It’s all over at Rufaro. Dynamos 2- ZPC – 0. Dynamos proceed to the final of the 35th Independence Cup
17:30 – Mandiranga denied again by Mverechena. Caps under siege here Mapeza is on the touch line urging his players on and on. 17:20 – Five minutes added at Rufaro
17:19 – The forced substitution of Zvirekwi has shifted the balance in Platinum favour.
17:18 – FC Platinum desperately looking for the kill as they bombard their opponents with relentless attcks. Mutuma meanwhile is anonymous.
17:16 – ZPC goal ruled offside at Rufaro. Dynamos still leads. At Mandava, Our reporter Mukudzei Chingwere reports Caps United, menawhile not effective in their final third, Mutuma with just 1 shot a goal after 80 minutes of action.
17:14 – Goal Alert: Dynamos has scored through a header by Obey Mwerahari. They lead 2-0.
17:13 – After 78 minuutes, Emmanuel Mandiranga is thye best player on the pitch but his efforts are not complemented by lone striker Tarisai Rukanda who looks lost upfront.
17:11 – Still 0-0 at Mandava.
17:00 – Evenly balanced match. Dynamos hang on to their slender lead of 1-0
16:41 – At Mandava it is still 0-0.
16:36 – Second half kicks off. ZPC on the offensive.
16:20 – Half time at Rufaro. Dynamos 1, ZPC 0.
16:07 – Caps are dominating possession but are yet to test Tizayi in goal from FC Platinum. FC Pkatinum creating more meaningful goal scoringopportunities.
16:02 – At Mandava it is still Caps 0, FC Platinum 0.
16:00 – Dynamos have been awarded a penalty after Chungwa was pushed in the box. Blessing Moyo takes it sending the ZPC the other away.Dynamos leads 1-0.
15:50 – At Rufaro Stadium it is still 0-0.
FC Platinum and Caps United at Mandava Stadium,Zvishavane. Caps: Mverechena C, Zvirekwi H, Matova R, Makatuka S, Munzambwa C, Mukandi D, Muchenje M, Pfumbidzayi R, Muskwe T, Mutuma R, Musarurwa V
Fc Platinum: Tizayi F, Veremu D, Nekati I, Moyo K, Kamusoko T, Gahadzikwa A, Dzumbunu T, Shoko S, Rukanda T,Mandiranga E, Mudena P.
15:10 – Low turn out at Rufaro as reporters are stranded outside after failure to organise their entry into the media center.The match is expected to start at 15:30 hours.
10:23 am: Our reporters give us their predictions of the Independence Trophy semi final matches to be played this afternoon
Kelvin Mapasure, Senior Sports reporter
ZPC and Platinum will proceed to the final. I think the final will be a low key match and Dynamos and Caps united will fight for third place.
Michael Madyira, Sports reporter
Mike concurs with Mapasure predicting that the giants will fall by the wayside. ZPC vs Platinum it will be, he says.
Winstone Antonio, Arts Reporter
Dynamos will win 2-1. Ronald Chitiyo will score for Dembare. 3-1 in favour of FC Platinum over Caps united. For Platinum this is a revenge match and a lot is at stake having lost to Caps 1-0 in a Castle Premiership league match.
Herbert Moyo, Staff Reporter
Platinum and Dynamos I have no doubt about that.
John Mokwetsi, Online Editor
Saul Chaminuka is a good coach. I think Dynamos and ZPC will settle this match after 90 mins. It is going to be a penalty lotto. Caps United has a big chance at Mandava. The final will be a big match. Dynamos vs Caps is what I see.
Shepherd Tozvireva, Photojournalist
Simple Dynamos vs Platinum in the final
DYNAMOS VS ZPC VENUE: RUFARO STADIUM
FC PLATINUM VS CAPS UNITED
VENUE: MANDAVA STADIUM
THE 35th Independence Trophy football final will take place on Saturday at the National Sports Stadium.
Four teams that finished in the top four in the 2014 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League will contest the semi-finals this Wednesday afternoon.
Defending champions FC Platinum face Caps United at Mandava Stadium in Zvishavane. Last year’s losing finalists Dynamos take on ZPC Kariba at Rufaro Stadium in the other semi-final.
As part of our build up, we bring you some of the statistics associated with the competition since the first two matches were played in 1980 and 1981 featuring Zimbabwe and Zambia and Zimbabwe and Malawi respectively.
Zimbabwe won both matches.
Dynamos are the most successful club in the competition with seven wins and five losses in the finals.
Highlanders are the second most successful team, having won five times, but lost a record 11 times in the final.
Caps United have won four times and lost three finals.
FC Platinum, one the newest teams in the PSL having been promoted in 2011, have won twice against Motor Action and Dynamos. They have not lost a final at the NSS and have won both on penalties.
On both occasions, they had to come from behind to force a draw and then the shootout. And on both occasions it was the same player Qadr Amini, who scored at the last minute to force a draw and then converted his spot kick again in the shootout.
Independence Trophy (Courtesy of RSSF)
1980 Zimbabwe 2-1 Zambia
1981 Zimbabwe 4-0 Malawi
friendly match
1982 Dynamos 2-2 Rio Tinto
club tournament
1983 Dynamos 2-1 Highlanders
friendly match
1984 Dynamos 1-1 Black Rhinos
zonal match
1985 North Zone 0-0 South Zone [aet, 4-3 pen]
club tournaments
1986 Highlanders 2-1 CAPS United [aet]
1987 Black Rhinos bt Airforce
1988 Highlanders 1-0 Chapungu United
1989 Zimbabwe Saints 1-0 Dynamos [aet]
1990 Dynamos 3-2 Highlanders
1991 Highlanders 2-1 CAPS United
1992 CAPS United 1-0 Highlanders
1993 CAPS United 1-0 Black Aces
1994 Chapungu United 4-1 Eiffel Flats
1995 Dynamos 5-0 Chapungu United
1996 CAPS United 2-1 Zimbabwe Saints
1997 CAPS United 1-0 Zimbabwe Saints
1998 Dynamos 2-0 Highlanders
1999 Amazulu 0-0 Wankie [aet, 7-6 pen]
2000 not held due to funds being diverted to flood victims
2001 Highlanders 0-0 Dynamos [3-1 pen]
2002 Highlanders 3-1 Dynamos
2003 Black Rhinos 2-1 Highlanders
2004 Dynamos 2-1 Highlanders
2005 Motor Action 2-0 Highlanders
2006 Masvingo United 1-1 CAPS United [3-0 pen]
2007 Masvingo United 3-0 Highlanders
2008 Shooting Stars 1-0 Highlanders
2009 Njube Sundowns 1-0 Dynamos
2010 Dynamos 2-0 Highlanders
2011 missing
2012 FC Platinum 1-1 Motor Action [4-1 pen]
2013 Dynamos 1-0 Highlanders
2014 FC Platinum 1-1 Dynamos [3-0 pen]
Number of Wins (1983 and since 1986) [lost finals between brackets]
7 [ 5] Dynamos (Harare)
5 [11] Highlanders (Bulawayo)
4 [ 3] CAPS United (Harare)
2 Black Rhinos
2 Masvingo United
2 FC Platinum
1 [ 3] Chapungu United (includes Airforce)
1 [ 2] Zimbabwe Saints (Bulawayo)
1 [ 1] Motor Action
1 AmaZulu (Bulawayo)
1 Njube Sundowns (Gwanda)
1 Shooting Stars (Harare)
[ 1] Black Aces
[ 1] Eiffel Flats
[ 1] Wankie (Hwange)
Uhuru Cup 2014
Semifinals [Mar 30]
FC Platinum 0-0 Highlanders [6-5 pen]
Dynamos 0-0 Harare City [4-2 pen]
Third Place [Apr 18, White City Stadium, Bulawayo]
Highlanders 1-0 Harare City
Final [[Apr 18, National Sports Stadium, Harare]
Dynamos 1-1 FC Platinum [0-3 pen]
[Thomas Magorimbo 18; Qadr Amini 90]
BY SPORTS REPORTER/RSSF
