Highlanders over the moon

CHICKEN Inn captain Danny "Deco" Phiri was not amused with yesterday's Easycall Cup defeat to Highlanders at Barbourfields Stadium, saying his team played below par.

The Gamecocks' captain, who conceded a 39th minute penalty which was converted by Ralph Matema, said Bosso deserved to win as they were not at their usual best.

"We didn't play well today and I think Highlanders deserved to win. Congratulations to Highlanders and unfortunately for us, this is not how we had planned to end our year," said Phiri.

The Gamecocks' skipper also believes that referee Brighton Chimhene erred by awarding Bosso a penalty.

"It's not that we're sore losers but that wasn't a penalty. There was no contact at all. Honest Moyo slipped alone having lost the ball and sold a dummy to the referee.

"Such is football and he was lucky to get away with that," said Phiri.

While Phiri and Chicken Inn were nursing the wounds from the defeat that saw the Gamecocks pocket $50,000, Highlanders were over the moon, celebrating a major trophy that was accompanied by $80,000 in prize money.

Bosso last won a major cup in 2013, the Mbada Diamonds Cup.

Highlanders' captain Felix Chindungwe, who gave Knox Mutizwa the armband yesterday, thanked fans for rallying behind the team when they were going through difficult spells that cost former coach Bongani Mafu his job.

"Without the fans, we wouldn't have gone this far. They were our pillar and it's my hope that they continue giving us this kind of support. About the captain's armband, Knox has been a vital member of our squad and he asked to wear the armband since Obidiah Tarumbwa wasn't around, and because of his confidence I gave him," said Chindungwe.

Scorer of the solitary goal Ralph Matema said: "I'm very happy that my goal helped the team win this major cup. When I left Highlanders after the end of the 2006 season, I was scoring goals and upon my return I knew that I still have some goals in me. Highlanders are in my blood and words alone can't express the feeling of scoring this important goal. I scored the penalty but it was all about teamwork.

"Credit goes to my teammates, coaches, management, supporters and above all, God who gave me this talent."

Bosso goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda, who made a number of saves throughout the tournament, was ecstatic.

"The road to the final wasn't easy for us. Today we did well to defend, especially in the second half, because we had been conceding goals in the last stanza. This cup is a real Christmas present for our supporters," said Sibanda.

"About my good form, I've been working on my weaknesses and I believe the criticism that I got when I wasn't playing well also worked as a motivating factor as I had to work harder. I'm hoping to continue with this form next season."

Sibanda has been in brilliant form of late, playing a blinder against FC Platinum, whom they beat 1-0 in the first round of the tournament, and Dynamos, who they knocked out in the semi-final 2-1 last weekend.

Yesterday, he made two brilliant saves that kept Bosso in the game; first denying Chicken Inn striker Mitchell Katsvairo a goal in the 18th minute. Katsvairo got to the end of a Kutinyu defence-splitting pass only for the forward to shoot straight at the advancing goalkeeper.

He was called upon to make another save in the 88th minute, punching a Chirambadare stinger out for a corner.

Highlanders' chief executive officer Ndumiso Gumede heaped praises on the technical team, which was appointed in September and given a mandate to save the club from relegation.

Cosmas Zulu, Amini Soma-Phiri and Melusi Sibanda were also assigned to get into the final of the Easycall Cup.

"This is a very important win for us considering that we started the season sluggishly. As a club, we feel vindicated for bringing Soma-Phiri and Zulu.

"When they came in, there was a lot of noise in the social networks with some questioning our sanity while others wrote that Zulu was using archaic training methods on goalkeepers.

"Today all those critics are eating humble pie," said Gumede.