In a season where the "Glamour Boys" seemed to have irretrievably lost their glitter, Dynamos Football Club managed to find one last, blinding spark in the Lowveld heat on Saturday afternoon.
By the time the final whistle blew at Gibbo Stadium, the horrors of a relegation-threatened league campaign had evaporated, replaced by the confetti and champagne of history. By edging out Triangle 1-0, Dynamos did not just salvage a disappointing year; they cemented their legacy as the indisputable Kings of the Cup, securing an unprecedented third consecutive Chibuku Super Cup crown.
For the better part of the year, the narrative surrounding the Harare giants was one of despair. DeMbare struggled for form, lacked consistency, and flirted dangerously with the drop zone.
However, cup football often defies league logic. Having already claimed the crown in 2023 and 2024, Dynamos arrived at Gibbo with muscle memory that their opponents lacked. While they were already record holders as the only team to successfully defend the premium knockout tournament, Saturday’s victory separates them entirely from the pack. They are now the solitary club to lift the Chibuku Super Cup gold three times.
Coach Kelvin Kaindu, who has weathered a storm of criticism this term, finally had his moment of vindication.
The final was not without its tension, which began long before the players took to the pitch. Kickoff was delayed by a nervy 20 minutes following a heated administrative standoff regarding the match balls.
When play finally commenced, it appeared the delay had unsettled the visitors more than the hosts. Triangle came out with guns blazing, pinning Dynamos back and besieging their penalty area. For the opening stanza, the Glamour Boys were holding on by a thread, indebted entirely to goalkeeper Prince Tafiremutsa.
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Tafiremutsa was a wall, repelling wave after wave of Triangle attacks until disaster struck. The shot-stopper suffered a severe injury in the line of duty and had to be whisked away to the hospital, casting a shadow of anxiety over the traveling fans.
Football, however, is a game of moments. Tatenda Makoni, the former Cranborne Bullets man, was introduced to replace the fallen Tafiremutsa. Rather than shrinking in the high-pressure environment, Makoni produced a goalkeeping masterpiece, keeping Dynamos in the game when they had no right to be.
With the back door firmly shut by Makoni, Dynamos needed just one half-chance to steal the glory.
It came through Enasio Perezo (Jnr). In a game dominated by Triangle possession, Perezo emerged as the unlikely hero, capitalizing on a rare opening to slot home the solitary goal. It was a strike against the run of play, but it was enough to silence Gibbo and send the DeMbare faithful into raptures.
The league table struggles were forgotten. The 2025 season will not be remembered for the relegation scare, but for the "Three-Peat."
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