Ngezi crash out

Sport
HERENTALS coach Kumbirai Mutiwekuziva delivered on his promise to prevail at Baobab Stadium after knocking out Ngezi Platinum Stars in the first round of the Chibuku Super Cup after a 4-3 penalty shootout yesterday.

Ngezi Platinum..(1) 1 Herentals ……………… (1) 1

(Herentals won 4-3 on penalties)

HERENTALS coach Kumbirai Mutiwekuziva delivered on his promise to prevail at Baobab Stadium after knocking out Ngezi Platinum Stars in the first round of the Chibuku Super Cup after a 4-3 penalty shootout yesterday.

BY GARISH PHIRI IN MHONDORO-NGEZI

Ngezi Platinum meant business from the outset as they took an early lead, courtesy of a third-minute goal by winger Donald Teguru, who easily tapped the ball home from a brilliant cross by Tichaona Mabvura

The Students responded well as they won a penalty in the 27th minute after Keith Murera handled the ball in the penalty box. Midfielder Richard Hachiro stepped up to slot the ball past a diving Bernard Donovan.

In the shootout, Liberty Chakoroma, Murera and Teguru found the back of the nets, while Godknows Murwira and Tatenda Mchisa failed to score.

The duo of Blessing Majarira and Peter Chota converted the first two penalties for Herentals before Hachiro’s spot kick struck the cross bar.

But Herentals held their nerves and Gibson Chinobva and Brighton Majarira converted the last two penalties to seal a shock victory for the Students.

The hosts will, however, feel hard done after referee Thomas Masa waved play on in the 41st minute when Chinobva appeared to have handled the ball inside the box.

Mutiwekuziva was in jovial mood as his plans went accordingly.

“I feel very happy. I’m very proud of the boys taking us into the next round of the competition in our first season,” he said.

“I think it’s one of the best things to happen for the club so far, I regard it as an achievement. We played our game as planned, but at the end, the penalty shootout is what we were expecting and that is what I trained more with the boys this week.”

Ngezi coach Tonderai Ndiraya was disappointed by his team’s failure to progress to the next round for the second successive season since winning the silverware in 2016.

“It is the second year running now that we have lost in the first round and it is quite disappointing,” he said.

“I thought we had done well to score a goal early in the game, but we switched off after that goal.

“We allowed Herentals to sort of come back into the match. We trained for the penalty kicks throughout the week, but I am not happy with some of my senior players who chickened out at the last minute.”