Published by the government of Zimbabwe
26 August 2008
Harare — It was the master stroke of a genius -- the defining moment for a coach in the biggest game of his time in the green corner of the CAPS United family.
It was a touch of technical excellence -- a moment of brilliance from a coach that swung the latest edition of the Harare Derby CAPS United's way and sent their delirious fans into heaven.
On that stroke of coaching brilliance, CAPS United found a platform on which they gallantly defended their lead and deservedly powered to glory in this ABC Sup8r Showdown semi-final tie against bitter rivals Dynamos.
On that moment of tactical genius, Kepekepe Bhora found the inspiration to hang on to their lead and, ultimately, power their way into the maiden final of a tournament that brought together the best eight teams in the Premiership last year.
CAPS United will look back with fond memories to that afternoon at Rufaro -- on a sunbathed day before a capacity and colourful crowd -- when they edged Dynamos 1-0 to book a final date against Lengthens.
There will be a number of heroes for Kepekepe Bhora.
Giant goalkeeper Edmore Sibanda for keeping his cool, just four minutes into the contest, to dive low to his right to save Edward Sadomba's penalty.
Malawian import Lulu Milanzi reacting fastest in that crowded penalty box to fire the ball home for the priceless goal -- his second in as many games against the old enemy.
Former skipper Method Mwanjali turning on a towering performance, in the heart of the defence, to neutralise the threat that was posed by Sadomba.
Former captain David Kutyauripo, playing against his old club, producing a performance pregnant with commitment he made life a little bit easier for the CAPS United defensive shield.
Former skipper Lionel Mtizwa dominating the midfield with such ruthlessness and spirit he forced Justice Majabvi to play second fiddle all afternoon.
Substitute Tendai Gwata -- a DeMbare reject -- giving a timely reminder to the coaches who deemed he was excess baggage with a brilliant solo performance upfront that terrorised the tiring Dynamos defence.
But one moment really stood out -- coach Jostein Mathuthu's decision to sacrifice Milanzi, once they lost Ashley Rambanapasi to a red card, and introduce Gwata in the 28th minute.
In a country where the quality of the coaches has been questioned, now and again, Mathuthu's decision to pull out Milanzi and throw in Gwata was a refreshing touch of brilliance.
This was the moment a coach took charge of the game, gave it his own special dosage of medicine and then watched, with pride from the touchline, as his charges stuck to instructions.
The majority of coaches in the Premiership would not have done that.
After all Milanzi had just put CAPS United into the lead and was showing signs of being hungry to showcase his talent on the big stage after the disappointment that followed his excellent show in his debut league match against Dynamos.
After all the CAPS United fans on the city end of the ground were cheering every touch by the Malawian and screaming out his name every time he won possession.
But all that didn't matter to Mathuthu.
What mattered to the coach was the wider interests of his team, the damage that Rambanapasi's expulsion had done to the shape of his team and the need to stabilise the squad.
And so, for the cause of CAPS United, Mathuthu sacrifised his goalscorer and sent in a player who could play alone in attack but still give the Dynamos defence a big problem.
He knew he could not continue with two men in attack because they had lost a key person in midfield.
So he pushed everyone back into midfield roles -- either central or wide on the flanks -- and sent Gwata into attack with clear instructions that he needed to hold on to the ball, as long as was possible, as he waited for reinforcements from the Green Army.
He told his substitute to slow the game down, use his strength and that big body, and to occasionally come deep to help his midfielders when they were not in possession
of the ball.
Mathuthu might have seen Gwata play a similar role, in a Dynamos shirt last season at Gwanzura, when he gave a vintage show in a one-man attacking formation before injury forced him to limp out of the match.
He asked him to play a similar role on Sunday and the big player responded brilliantly.
Now and again he took on the Dynamos defence and he kept winning the tussles, he kept holding the ball until enough support had come and he was so focussed that he restricted the DeMbare defence from making runs into the enemy zone.
Gwata was simply awesome on Sunday and it's a pity that when an opportunity presented itself, to get the insurance goal that could have killed this game as a contest, he missed his chance.
The big forward came face-to-face with goalkeeper Willard Manyatera but his decision to fire low, straight at the goalkeeper, was not the best and his shot was well saved.
My personal feelings were that Gwata was the outstanding player on Sunday and probably deserved the man-of-the-match award and the $2000 that went with it.
Instead the award was given to goalkeeper Sibanda with the voting team probably being swayed by that golden moment, early into the game, when he dived to his right and made that great penalty save.
While Sibanda's overall showing was not convincing, something expected in your maiden Harare Derby show, the fact that he saved that penalty in such a big game was key.
But it was Gwata's strong showing upfront, all the time roaming as a sole striker, that gave CAPS United the shape, for 62 minutes, that helped them counter the DeMbare push for an equaliser.
It's not always that a gamble, however brilliant, by a football coach pays off dividends.
But you have to give Mathuthu credit for the brave manner in which he executed his gamble, the correct identity of the individual that he invested his trust in and, crucially, the way the player paid his coach back with that superb performance.
For Dynamos, the journey continues and on Saturday -- just a week after taking on their biggest rivals in the capital, they will come face-to-face with arguably the best team on the continent.
You can't fault David Mandigora for that penalty miss that could have changed the direction of the game.
But maybe, in the general context of the match, he was outwitted by Mathuthu.
Maybe, with the benefit of hindsight, Mandigora will see that there was need to change the shape of his team once CAPS United had fallen a man short.
But Dynamos played as if nothing had changed, as if they were still playing XI versus XI, with the same midfield combination, with Phillip Marufu somehow isolated down the left, with Sam Mutenheri being encouraged to run down the left when it was clear that his crosses lacked quality.
Danisa Phiri was sacrificed but his replacement was a familiar figure of failure in the Dynamos line-up these days -- winger Benjamin Marere.
Once again the changes made no impact.
So Dynamos struggled to break down a spirited CAPS United because once Mathuthu had changed the shape of his team and Mandigora had kept his formation intact, the one-man handicap disappeared.
CAPS United's wild celebrations at the end of the game spoke volumes about a team that probably needed this win more than their rivals and deservedly got it.
For a team that has largely struggled all season, this was a performance to cherish.
And their coach played a big part in the success.
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