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Eight editions of the Chibuku Super Cup are now done and dusted and the long wait continues for Premiership football giants Dynamos.
They have not won a major title since 2014 when the magical run of four consecutive titles under Callisto Pasuwa ended. Since then, DeMbare have lost their way at every turn.
Needless to say, the Chibuku Super Cup presented their best opportunity for silverware this year after they had lost track of defending champions FC Platinum in the Premiership race where the rivals occupy the top two places.
Dynamos had hoped to launch a fierce challenge for honours in all competitions this year after landing a lucrative sponsorship deal with Sakunda Holdings and also having revamped their squad in the last two years.
But they find themselves trailing FC Platinum by eight points with just about seven games remaining in the Premiership campaign.
Their destiny is no longer in their hands and pressure is now back on coach Tonderai Ndiraya and his charges after losing the Chibuku Super Cup quarter-final tie to holders FC Platinum in a penalty shoot-out at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday. The match had ended goalless in regulation time.
“Pressure has always been there on both fronts,” Ndiraya said after the match on Sunday.
“So we are out on one front. What’s left is the league race. I know it’s for FC Platinum to lose but we mustn’t lose heart.
“We just have to keep fighting and see what happens at the end of the season. But this is a game of football, we need to keep the focus and deal with the remaining games.”
Instead, FC Platinum are still fancying their chances at finishing with a double at the end of the season. The platinum miners are set to face Herentals in the semi-finals of the Chibuku Super Cup.
Herentals beat Manica Diamonds 2-1 at the National Sports Stadium to book their first Chibuku semi-final spot.
Dark Horses Black Rhinos and Bulawayo Chiefs are set to clash in the other semi-final scheduled for October 15-16.
Black Rhinos edged Chicken Inn 8-9 in a penalty shoot-out after their game against Chicken Inn had ended in a 1-1 stalemate.
Bulawayo Chiefs produced a giant-killing act when they knocked out 2019 winners Highlanders via a 1-0 win at Barbourfields on Sunday. Highlanders are the only team, among the traditional Big Three, that have won the Chibuku Super Cup.
But Dynamos have always found the Chibuku Super Cup difficult. Beginning with the inaugural edition under Callisto Pasuwa, then Lloyd Mutasa, Lloyd Chigowe and Ndiraya returning for a second stint.
In the inaugural edition in 2014, Dynamos lost 1-0 to Black Rhinos in a tense contest that ended with both teams one man short following a nasty confrontation between Roderick Mutuma and Obey Gada at Gwanzura.
Black Rhinos’ Nesbert Padzarondora’s shot took an awkward deflection in the 85th minute, off his team-mate Stephen Matsangaise to beat goalkeeper Artwell Mukandi in goals for Dynamos.
This was Callisto Pasuwa’s last season with Dynamos, which coincided with the last time DeMbare ever won a major silverware.
DeMbare’s best performance was in 2015 when they reached their only final under Ndiraya. But they were stopped in their tracks by a determined Harare City who prevailed 2-1, courtesy of goals from Francesco Zekumbawire and William Manondo in an action-packed final at the National Sports Stadium.
They had dumped holders FC Platinum along the way, following a 7-6 penalty shoot-out win in the quarter-finals.
But in 2016 they could not go past the first round after losing a penalty lottery to How Mine. The game had ended in a goalless affair at Baobab before Donovan Bernard produced a brilliant goalkeeping display in the tie-breaker to deny Lloyd Mutasa’s men to progress to the next round.
Mutasa had another shot at Chibuku Super Cup with the Glamour Boys in 2017 but they fell flat again in the first round after losing 2-1 to Bulawayo City at Rufaro.
Dynamos under Chigowe reached the semi-finals in the 2018 edition but lost 2-1 to eventual winners Triangle.
In 2019 they lost 1-0 in the first round to bitter rivals Highlanders, who went on to win the title for the first time.
The tournament was not played in 2020 following the outbreak of Covid-19. It returned last year in a different format and Dynamos had a promising start after dominating their group and booking a quarter-final date with FC Platinum.
The Glamour Boys lost the match 1-0 at the National Sports Stadium. They had an opportunity to revenge on Sunday but they were not clinical with the spot-kicks as Godknows Murwira and Trevor Mavhunga were thwarted by goalkeeper Wallace Magalane while FC Platinum converted all their kicks via Gift Mbweti, Walter Musona, Blessing Moyo and Brian Banda.
FC Platinum have two Chibuku Super Cup titles to their name after winning the inaugural edition and then returning for the 2021 edition. Harare City are the only other team to win two Chibuku Super Cup titles while Ngezi Platinum Stars, Triangle and Highlanders have one each. Herald
