BY DANIEL NHAKANISO GWERU-BASED correctional services side Wha Wha beat Cranborne Bullets 8 – 7 on penalties in the Chibuku Super Cup preliminary round at Mandava yesterday, to book a date with giants Harare Dynamos in the next round of the competition.
Bullets needed a bit of luck in the final minute to take the match between two relegation haunted sides into the shootout after substitute Kelvin Chiripawako equalised with a ‘ghost goal’ that did not look like it had crossed the line before it was cleared by Admiral Matope.
But the referee of the day Happy Mabhena adjudged that the ball had crossed the line and gave a goal that cancelled Raymond Horonga’s 47th minute opener.
As fate would have it Wha Wha managed to hold their nerves to progress into the first round of the knockout competition after a tense penalty lottery.
Kudakwashe Chidhonza crashed his spot kick into the crossbar in the sudden death stage on the shoot-out to extinguish Cranborne Bullets’ hopes of mounting another memorable Chibuku Cup campaign after reaching the semi-finals last year.
Wha Wha coach Luke Jukulile said his team, which has earned the tag of ‘giant slayers’ this season is relishing playing Dembare in the next round.
“Looking at the team when they are playing against big teams, these youngsters always rise to the occasion. Hopefully when we play Dynamos who are in the same league with us we are not going to be intimidated by the name. It is only the day of the match that will determine the better team,” he said after the match.
Jukulile also felt that the win was a massive boost for the team as it fights to escape relegation this season.
Earlier in the day at the same venue ZPC Kariba also needed a penalty shootout to dump Bulawayo City out of the Chibuku Cup and will now play Bulawayo Chiefs in the first round.
ZPC Kariba won the 4 – 1 on penalties after the two teams had played a goalless draw