HARARE- ZIMBABWE league champions Motor Action defied odds staked against them after edging Cnaps Sports of Madagascar 3-4 on penalties to book a ticket to the first round of the African Champions league at the weekend. The match had ended 1-1 in regulation time.Having been shocked 1-0 by the little known Madagascar outfit in the first leg at Rufaro, no one gave them a chance as they prepared for the decisive second leg.
But coach Joey Antipas and his men had the last laugh at the weekend after beating their opponents in their own backyard at the weekend to advance to the first round of Africa’s premier club competition.
Former Monomotapa stiker Kudakwashe Musharu scored the equaliser for the Mighty Bulls for the match to spill into the dreaded penalty shoot out. But they were kept in the competition by veteran goalkeeper Marloni Jani who saved one penalty kick before converting the winner for the Mighty Bulls.
Antipas, speaking from the Indician Ocean Island was naturally elated.
“We are now back into the equation. We had been written off after we lost in the first leg in Harare but I knew we would overturn the tables. We worked hard for this. We spent the whole of last week working on the areas of weakenesses we noted in the first leg and it paid dividends. I am really excited with this victory,” said Antipas.
Motor Action are playing in the lucrative tournament for the first time after winning their maiden league championships at the expense of Dynamos last term. They will be looking to emulate Dynamos who have a proud record in the tournament after reaching the finals in 1998 under the guidance of Sunday Chidzambwa.
Dynamos who were given a bye into the first round based on their previous performance have reached the group stage of Africa’s premier club
competition on all occasions they have participated in the competition.
Post published in: Football