HIGHLANDERS squeezed past Shabanie Mine at Barbourfields yesterday to set a date with Motor Action in the final of the BancABC Sup8r Cup.The Sup8r final jigsaw puzzle fell into place following a 59th minute strike by Graham Ncube which ensured that Bosso book a place into the finals of this year’s Cup.
Motor Action dispatched reigning champions Dynamos 7-6 after a penalty shoot-out at Rufaro a week ago to claim their slot in the finals.
The Sup8r final is likely to be played at Barbourfields on September 10 but Kennedy Ndebele, the chief executive of the premiership said the venue is yet to be decided. Last year’s final was played at Rufaro between Dynamos and CAPS United.
The semi-finals pitting Bosso and Shabanie Mine yesterday was a dull affair and was watched by a poor crowd of 2 000. The Bulawayo football fans decided to stay away from the match despite the gate charges being pegged at US$2.
Save for the spectacular goal by Ncube, the match was a poor display of football. Man of the match Rahman Kutsanzira received the ball on the right flank and spotted an unmarked Ncube who chested it inside the box and then volleyed a stinger past Shabanie goalie Roy Mazingi.
Highlanders coach Mkhupali Masuku was not happy with his strikers who wasted several chances and had this to say: “We take every game as a Cup final. At some stage Shabanie Mine were a threat, especially in the first half but they did not manage to score.
“We created a lot of chances and we missed, which is not good for us. We still have a lot of work to do with the strikers but we are happy about winning and getting into the final.”
Shabanie Mine put a good fight in the first half but lost it when Solomon Ndlovu got injured and had to be pulled out in the first half.
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Luke Masomere, the Shabanie Mine coach said Ndlovu’s injury was a big blow to the team’s plan as it swayed the game in favour of Bosso.
Former Orlando Pirates player Zvenyika Makonese, who was expected to make his debut for Shabanie Mine, did not play in yesterday’s match after failing to make it into the first 11. He also failed to claim a place among the six substitutes on the Shabanie Mine bench.
