Highlanders are the Independence Day Cup winners for the second successive time after beating Dynamos 5-3 on penalties at Mt Darwin High School on 18 April.
The country’s two biggest football clubs took their rivalry away from Harare and Bulawayo to Mashonaland Central Province as part of the main 43rd Independence Day anniversary celebrations.
Yesterday, Highlanders were forced to play one man down for long periods, after Andrew Mbeba was sent off for a crude tackle on Nyasha Chintuli, in the 33rd minute.
The match ended 0-0 and had to be settled through a penalty shootout.
The Glamour Boys’ Emmanuel Paga, who failed to find the back of the net with only the goalkeeper in his sight in the 85th minute, had his penalty saved by Ariel Sibanda in the shootout.
Highlanders coach Baltemar Brito said his boys deserved the win after keeping Dynamos at bay with 10 men. He said:
<blockquote>
I’m happy to have finally won my first silverware in the country, it means a lot for the entire technical team and the fans who travelled all the way from Bulawayo. The boys played well
Mbeba made a mistake and his teammates accepted it and fought for the club to win this trophy.
I’m happy with how we managed the game. The boys were just confident and I think they deserve it.
</blockquote>
DeMbare coach Herbert Maruwa bemoaned his strikers’ failure to convert the chances they created. He said:
<blockquote>
We did well in all the departments but our strikers let us down.
They missed a lot of chances and in football, you can only win by scoring goals and that’s what we failed to do.
But, overall, I’m happy with how the boys played, it’s only the final third where we need to be more ruthless.
</blockquote>
Highlanders beat Dynamos 1-0 in the Independence Day Cup final last year, through a goal by Stanley Ngala.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

Highlanders Beat Dynamos On Penalties To Lift Uhuru Cup

Dynamos coach Herbert Maruwa says the Independence Day Cup final is a must-win match for the Glamour Boys.
“Jompano” is eyeing his first piece of silverware when DeMbare takes on Highlanders in the Independence Day Cup final in Mt Darwin this Tuesday.
The country’s two biggest clubs embarked on a roadshow in Mashonaland Central Province, before settling at their base at Monomotapa Crowne Plaza Hotel in Harare.
They were expected to leave Harare for Mt Darwin on Tuesday morning and take part in the 43rd Independence Day celebrations. <a href="https://www.hmetro.co.zw/rumble-in-the-jungle/">H-Metro</a> quoted Maruwa as saying:
<blockquote>
We have to understand we are on national duty and we are dedicated to the cause. We have to win the game.
Denver Mukamba, Frank Makarati, Frank Kuchineyi, and Issa Sadiki are all out with injuries.
But, we are going to field our strongest squad available.
Actually, the team that was supposed to be playing in Bulawayo (in a league match against Bosso last Saturday) is the one we are going to use.
We are going there to play football. We don’t have to worry much about the dangers posed by the pitch on players.
Injuries happen everywhere, on good and bad pitches, and we have to agree that it’s part of the game.
</blockquote>
Highlanders are also expected to field a full-strength squad after taking 18 first-team regulars to Mt Darwin.
The squad includes captain Ariel Sibanda, vice-captain Peter Muduhwa, Mbongeni Ndlovu, Archford Faira, Andrew Mbemba, Andrew Tandi and Godfrey Makaruse.
Divine Mhindirira, Melikhaya Ncube, Darlington Mukuli, Brighton Manhire, Mason Mushore, McKinnon Mushore, Rahman Kutsanzira, Washington Navaya, Lynoth Chikuhwa and Stanley Ngala are also part of the squad.
Highlanders beat Dynamos 1-0 in the Independence Day Cup final last year. Ngala scored the only goal of the match.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Independence Day Cup A Must-win For Herbert Maruwa

Highlanders coach Baltemar Brito has claimed that the decision to cancel the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) tie against Dynamos at short notice was meant to protect Dynamos who have failed to score in the last two matches.
Earlier this week, the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) ordered the PSL to cancel the match that was pencilled for this Saturday to allow the two clubs to participate in the Independence Day Trophy final.
The Independence Day Trophy final will be played at Pfura Stadium in Mount Darwin in Mashonaland Central province on Tuesday next week.
Speaking to <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/sport/article/200010144/bosso-cry-foul">NewsDay</a> on Thursday, Brito said Dynamos had less time to prepare for the league match after playing the last match on Easter Monday while Bosso had played theirs three days earlier (on Good Friday).
It is therefore Brito’s view that the “The Battle of Zimbabwe” was cancelled to protect Dynamos who have also experienced a couple of injuries. Said Brito:
<blockquote>
About the cancellation of the game, we cannot run way from this subject because; no hard feelings, but this decision was only to protect Dynamos because they are coming from two draws.
They had some players who were not having good moments at all; they have some injuries.
Add to that they had to travel to Bulawayo for that game after playing on Monday, so the week of preparation wasn’t going to be the best for them.
Everyone knows that the decision was not to protect football but to protect Dynamos from this game.
Right now we need to respect that decision and the next game is against them (Dynamos) in a cup match.
But they are staying in Harare, they are fresh; we need to travel.
The cancellation of the league game three days before means that in our week of preparation, there have to be a lot of changes.
Our plan was to play on Saturday and now everything is different.
Again our next game (in the league) is against Yadah, we don’t know whether Friday or Saturday.
We don’t know if we will have to come back to Bulawayo (after the cup final on Tuesday) or if we stay there.
So in terms of preparations, we just hope the football authorities have the same way for both teams because to come back and travel to Harare is not fair.
If one team is protected, the other should be protected as well.
</blockquote>
Highlanders said they will field their best team in the Independence Trophy final while Dynamos have four players ruled out due to injuries.
Denver Mukamba, captain Frank Makarati, Donald Mudadi, and reserve goalkeeper Prince Tafiremutsa will not make the trip to Mt Darwin.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Uhuru Cup: Government Favours Dynamos, Claims Highlanders Coach

Highlanders lifted the 2022 Independence Cup after beating Dynamos 1-0 in the final played on Monday.
A Stanely Ngala second-half strike at a packed Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayo brought Bosso its eighth Independence trophy.
Dynamos finished the match with 10 men after Shadreck Nyahwa was shown a straight red card in the 87th minute for a dangerous high tackle on Mbongeni Ndlovu.
Speaking to the media after the match, DeMbare coach Tonderai Ndiraya, congratulated Highlanders for their victory. He said:
<blockquote>
Football is the winner today. Most importantly, the atmosphere was electrifying and we really enjoyed the match.
We wish this could be the case week in, week out. We want people back in the stadium, but most importantly I’m happy that the day has ended with such an electrifying atmosphere.
As you saw, people were happy and congratulations to Highlanders. We’re happy 42 years of freedom, I’m happy despite us losing today.
</blockquote>
Highlanders coach Mandla Mpofu dedicated the win to the multitude of Bosso fans who came to the stadium for the Independence Day celebrations. Said Mpofu:
<blockquote>
It feels good to win the Independence Cup. This victory is for the multitude of fans who came to celebrate our Independence.
As much as it was more of a friendly encounter, as I said during the course of the week, it doesn’t matter what’s at stake when you play Dynamos, you always want to win.
Today I’m happy, a very tough game, a very tactical game. The most important thing was to make sure the cup stays here.
We need to cut our celebrations because in five days’ time we’re playing FC Platinum.
</blockquote>
Teams
Highlanders: Ariel Sibanda, Andrew Mbeba, Mbongeni Ndlovu, Andrew Tandi, Peter Muduhwa, Nqobizitha Masuku, Rahman Kutsanzira (Washington Navaya, 45th minute), Devine Mhindirira Stanley Ngala, Adrian Silla (Joel Ngodzo, 80th minute), Lynoth Chikuhwa (Darlington Mukuli, 90th minute)
Dynamos: Taimon Mvula, Shadreck Nyahwa, Brendon Mpofu, Patson Jaure, Frank Makarati, Keith Murera, Godknows Murwira (Emmanuel Jalai, 77th minute), Ralph Kawondera, Emmanuel Paga (Evans Katema, 59th minute), Bill Antonio, Tinashe Makanda (Issa Sadiki, 55th minute)
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/highlanders-beat-dynamos-to-lift-uhuru-cup/">Chronicle</a></h4>

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