Masvingo Utd win Diamond Cup

Tenax .....................................................2 Masvingo ..............................................2

MASVINGO United rekindled their old flame when they got the better of elite Premier Soccer League newcomers Tenax in a penalty shoot out to win the third edition of the Diamond Super Cup at Sakubva in Mutare yesterday.

Two goals from Masvingo United’s Micheal Tapera and Admire Banda and a Takunda Mapara brace for Tenax meant the two sides were not separated at the end of regulation time. Not even 30 minutes extra time could produce a winner.

However, the visitors snatched the cup after prevailing in the penalty shoot out lottery.

Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company spokesperson Sugar Chagonda said they will keep bankrolling the tournament as part of their social responsibility initiatives.

“As ZCDC, we are happy with the way this tournament unfolded in the previous edition.

“We will keep supporting it and the other corporate social responsibilities that we have taken up as a company, including sponsoring Manica Diamonds. We strongly believe is fulfilling our mandate as a responsible corporate citizen and to that end, we will dig deeper to fulfil our mandate,”Chagonda said.

Masvingo United, a formidable outfit during the new millennium’s first decade, are not new to cup games. During their best days in the top-flight league, they won the OK Woza Bhora Cup in 2002, the Zifa Unity Cup, and the Independence Trophy in 2005.

Masvingo coach Godfrey Dondo said he is happy to have guided his team to victory.

“Of course, we came with respect for the champions Chauya Chikara (Tenax FC), but we wanted this cup while it would have been a bonus for them. I am happy we managed to win it.“We left no stone unturned in Sakubva stadium,”Dondo said.

The annual tournament is a preserve of the teams that would have finished in the Zifa Eastern Region Division One’s top four.