MABLANYO’S GAMBLE PAYS OFF IN BIG WAY

Curtworth Masango

GOALKEEPER Tatenda Makoni says he has been working on saving penalties in recent days after inspiring the Glamour Boys to the Chibuku Super Cup semi-finals at Rufaro yesterday.

The 5-3 penalty shootout victory was a relief to coach Lloyd “MaBlanyo” Chigowe who has come under intense pressure in recent weeks after a very poor run.

DeMbare, in all red, edged a battling Yadah after the match had ended in a 1-1 draw in regulation time. The lively Valentine Kadonzvo, who has transformed himself into MaBlanyo’s main man, scored for the Glamour Boys.

Prosper Kafelapanjila scored for the Miracle Boys.

But, in the end, it was goalkeeper Makoni who wrote his name into the headlines.

He denied Ariel Makopa to give Dynamos the advantage early on.

Makoni has the least game time of the three goalkeepers currently registered at the club.

He was brought in for regular ‘keeper Martin Mapisa as the game headed for the penalties.

It appears even his coaching staff knew that he was the best bet for them when it came to stopping the spot kicks.

They took the gamble and it paid off in a big way.

It’s always good when such experiments pay off because, when they backfire, the coaches know that they will be in the firing line.

Makoni told Zimpapers Sport he had the confidence that he was going to repay the faith shown by his coaches.

“For the past few days we have been training for the penalties but we really needed to win the game in regulation time.

“In training, I believe I showed that I am capable of saving penalties and I had the confidence coming in.

“Making a penalty save makes me feel very happy and is a big motivation for me.

“I feel if the need rises next time, I will be able to help the team again.

“Of course, I have had less time to play but I believe the time will come and I will be even better.”

He added:

“Last year, I was called for trials in Spain at Granada and I believe I can still reach that level again.

“When I went to Granada last season I believe I wasn’t mature yet and I believe God always gives people another chance to correct their mistakes.

“I believe that I am correcting the mistakes and I will reach the level that I want.”

MaBlanyo said Makoni is their best penalty shot-stopper and they had to try him and it yielded a positive result.

“At training, he has shown that of our three goalkeepers, he is a penalty shot-stopper and came to the party at the right moment.

“The one save was good enough to take us through to the next round,” said MaBlanyo.

Dynamos had suffered defeats to CAPS United and Chicken Inn in their last games at Rufaro.

But, they are now just one hurdle, against Manica Diamonds, from returning to the Chibuku Super Cup final.

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