Sam Banda Junior, AfricaNews reporter in Blantyre, Malawi
Host nation Zimbabwe on Sunday came from behind to beat Zambia 3-1 to win the Cosafa Senior Challenge Cup at Rufaro Stadium in Zimbabwe. The Cosafa Senior Challenge has played a crucial role in uplifting the standards of football in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
Zambia who are also battling to make it to the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola next year were the first to hit the net through Henry Banda. Banda scored in the 24th minute after he collected a ball on the edge of the 18 yard box and dribbled past a Zimbabwean defender before lifting the ball over the host’s goalkeeper Edmore Sibanda.
Zambia popularly known as Chipolopolo could have added another goal a minute later but their strikers wasted the chance. Zimbabwe popularly known as Warriors scored three quick goals in the last minutes of the first half through Nyasha Mushekwi and Cuthbert Malajali. Mushekwi who squandered several chances scored two goals.
At half-time Zimbabwe was leading 3-1 and Zambia came back with full force in the second half but they could not manage to hit the warrior’s net.
After the 90 minutes regulation time, the jam packed Rufaro stadium celebrated as Zimbabwe was crowned the 2009 champions and received the trophy from President Robert Mugabe.
AfricaNews reporter said this was good news for the country which is battling to put its economy back in shape.
Zimbabwe also won the Fair Play award for the team with the best disciplinary record, while Player of the Tournament was taken by Mozambique winger Josemar Machaisse.
The host country smiled once more as its striker Malajali got the Top Goal scorer Award for his four goals in the tournament while goalkeeper of the tournament was Zambia’s Edmore Sibanda.
The tournament attracted countries like South Africa, Malawi, Swaziland, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia among others.
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