Highlanders have retained the Zimbabwe National Army Charities Shield as the Sables crash out of Africa Cup.
Highlanders were stretched to the limit by little Harare City but still retained their Zimbabwe National Army Charities Shield after a 4-2 penalty shootout win over the Sunshine City Boys at Babourfields Stadium on Sunday.
The two teams had settled for a goalless draw in regulation time and with the tournament having no provision for extra time, the referee ordered penalty shootouts.
Highlanders coach Erol Agbay was excited by the win and says although they won by penalties a win is a win.
“Today was a cup final and a cup final that we won. A win is a win so be it today,” said Agbay.
However, there are others who in fact believe that it is the Sunshine City Boys that should have won the match after creating countless chances in both halves but failed to convert them.
Harare City coach, Moses Chunga, strongly feels they should have won the game but says this is a game of football and they should accept what happened.
“Unfortunately, this is the name of the game. I think we did everything and we should have buried the game in the first half to win it,” said Chunga.
CASTLE LAGER GAMES
For Chunga and his boys, they were not disgraced and will take home a cool $8,000.
With $12,000 in their pockets and the ZNA Charities Shield in their cabinet, Bosso will now turn their attention to their rescheduled Castle Lager Premier Soccer League fixture against Triangle on Wednesday.
The Bulawayo giants are now three points behind FC Platinum, who won their match 1-0 at Chicken Inn Saturday. However, Kugona Kunenge Kudada coach Norman Mapeza is refusing to accept that they are among the favourites for the title.
“Yah, like I said the most important think for us to keep on collecting maximum points and see where that will take us. The games are going to come even faster and harder and we have to keep focused,”
said Mapeza.
SABLES OUT OF AFRICA CUP
In rugby, the Zimbabwe national team are out of the race for the 2016 Africa Cup after suffering another home defeat this time to little Uganda 27-34 at the Police Rugby Grounds over the weekend.
Although the Sables still have a game still to play against Namibia veteran player, Fortune Chipendu, admits the Sables are down and out.
“We are in a tight position. Even if we beat Namibia,we will still lose out after losing heavily to Kenya,” said Chipendu.
The defeat means the Sables have been relegated from the elite Africa Cup Division 1A and are also out of the qualifiers for the 2019 World Cup to be held in Japan.
The World Cup qualifiers, which will begin later next year, are reserved for those teams in the Africa Cup Division 1A.
This is the first time in 36 years that Zimbabwe, who represented Africa at the 1987 and 1991 World Cup finals, will not be involved in World Cup qualifiers.
However, critics have pointed out that the problem with the Sables is just the same as that of the Sables.
They have been resistant to replace ageing and underperforming players when there was still time.