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Zambia vs Zimbabwe
The organising committee of Cosafa also had presents for the Chief Operating Officer Sue Destombes and her crew for a job well done. It was a tournament well organised and for her sterling organisation and unbridled effort Destombed fully deserve the accolade.
Now the moment of glory is here....Zimbabwe captain receives the trophy from President Mugabe and celebrations are torched at the ceremonial home of football. The crowd responds and the party begins at Rufaro.
The 2009 Cosafa Challenge also had another winner - President Mugabe who was presented with a shield by Cosafa boss Suketu Patels and champaigne is popped and the players joins the crowd in celebrating a momentous epoch for the troubled game.
It was necessary for Zimbabwe to win. They had to do it for their suffering band of supporters. They are out of the 2010 African Cup of Nations in Angola and South Africa 2010 for the World Cup 2010.
For his four goals Zimbabwe striker Cuthbert Malajila receives his top goal scorer award from President Mugabe while goalkeeper Edmore Sibanda who put on a brilliant show in the penalty shoot out against South Africa in semis was named the goalkeeper of the tournament.
His legions of fans responded by singing his name
Losing finalists Zambia receive their medals from President Mugabe as Rufaro wait for the real presentations - yes that of the Cosafa Senior Challenge Trophy.
ZIMBABWE captain Method Mwanjali who put up a polished performance in the final and could easily have been man of the match duly won the player of the tournament
ZIMBABWEAN fans remain in the stadium to watch a moment they always craved for, the regional Cosafa Senior Challenge. The stage is being set for the presentations and the losing finalists Zambia troop to the podioum to receive their medals.
But first the referees who had a brilliant show come up to receive their medals. In five matches they played in the tournament, Zimbabwe have provided man of the match winner four times. First was Asani Nhongo, second was Chris Semakweri, then Method Mwanjale and now Mushekwi whose two goals were crucial in winning the tie and the trophy for the hosts.
President Mugabe is ready to make presentations to winners
90+2 Edmore Sibanda makes a woderful diving save to keep the cup in Harare. 3-1 Zimbabwe take it to become the first team to win the Cosafa Senior Challenge trophy for the fourth time in the history of the competition.
It is all over and Zimbabwe are champs again. Although Zambia dominated a double Nyasha Mushekwi who was chosen man of the match, it Sunday Chidzambwa who becomes the second coach to win the Cosafa twice after doing it in 2003.
90 min Before this match Zimbabwe had only won three of their 19 meetings since 1980 with Zambia winning nine and drawing the balance.
88 min Malajila had the ball in the back of the net but his effort is ruled offside. If there were any doubts to Zimbabwe's win, the three minutes signal for added time ends that as the packed stadium erupts into songs and dance for the victory. A sweet victory against eternal rivals.
87min Despite the 3-1 lead Zimbabwe makes the third substitution with Thabani Kamusoko replacing Ashley Rambanepasi. It is really playing for time for Zimbabwe.
86 min Cuthbert Malajila is stopped by Himonde after a wonder move and ZAMBIA survive again.
85 min Zambia unlucky not to score from a good free kick just outside the box. The match is surely pettering to a close with an unbelievable 3-1 scoreline for Zimbabwe.
60 min Zambia continue their dominationof the game but Method Mwanjali is putting a man of the match performance at the heart of defence to stop the dangerous Sebastien Mwanza whose excellence with the ball is unquestionable.
76 min Zambia are lucky to survive as Jacob Banda fumbles a routine catch but Mushekwi is slow to react.
45 min Zimbabwe on roar again as a beatiful four move result in Cuthbeth Malajila scoring Zimbabwe's third and his fourth of the tourney to surely seal a top goal scorer award for him. It is 3-1 as ref blows to end the half.
36 min GOAL It is 2-1 to Zimbabwe as Mushekwi heads a second for Zimbabwe and his second.
30 min Zambia continue to ask questions with Sebastien Mwanza outstanding with his close ball control and range of passing. Scorer Henry Banda is yellow carded for rough play on Tafadzwa Rusike.
27 min IT is getting exciting as Nyasha Mushekwi equalises for Zimbabwe after a wonder cross pass from Chris Semakweri that allowed the striker to shield off Hichani Himonde to score past Jacob Banda. It is 1-1 and Zambia conceed their first goal of the tournament.
23 min Right back Jimmy Chisenga for Zambia is carried off injured but the Zambians maintain a stranglehold on the match. An attack is broken down by Gilbert Mapemba but Zambia wins a corner
25 GOOOAL Exciting Henry Banda beats the Zimbabwe defence to score past Edmore Sibanda as Zambia take the lead. Their domination finally paid but the blame should be on Ashley Rambanepasi who failed to break the attack in midfield. It is 1-0 Zambia
18min A wonderful clearing header by Zambia captain Hichani Himonde foils a clear cut chance to Tafadzwa Rusike. It was the best clearance in the match so far to leave the score at 0-0.
Mthulisi Maphosa forces play to stop after a knee injury. He hobbles back into in clear discomfort.
16min Daniel Vheremu clears a Sebastian Mwanza dangerous ball from the box
14 min Zimbabwe gets first corner but Zambia clears emphatically to maintain the momentum
13 min Zambia gets another corner but Sebastien Mwanza skies the draw back. It remains 0-0
11 min Ashley Rambanepasi misses a seater in the box and with that a chance to draw first blood.
10 min Henry Banda drive misses the right upright post as Keeper Edmore Sibanda dives full stretch. Henry Banda driving Zambian midfield with power and poise as the match heats up.
8 min Allan Mukuka is decked by Asani Nhongo and Zambia gets a free kick
6min Stopilla Sunzu is fouled by Chris Semakweri and free kick is awarded to Zambia
4min Zambia win first corner after good move by Enock Sakala forcing Method Mwanjali to slide out for a corner
2min Wonderful strike on the run by right back Gilbert Mapemba misses the target from a Cuthbert Malajila pass.
Away we go in Harare with Zambia kicking off. The 2009 Senior Cosafa Challenge is on
14h57 COSAFA boss Suketu Patel hands the President a plaque in recongnition of his presence as final team photo pictures are taken ahead of kick in three minutes.
14h50 Unbelievable noise greets the teams lining up for kick off. Zambia are in all white and Zimbabwe in their gold and black. President Mugabe lines up for the national anthem as the packed stadium sing along.
14h55 President Mugabe greets players as he is introduced by Cosafa boss Suketu Patel as kick off beckons.
It is 30 mins before kicks off and the diginitaries line for photo shoots as teams prepare to return to the dug out for kick off. Rufaro, 35 000 seater facility, is now packed with fans singing to the music and the sounds of vuvuzela piercing through the noise cordon. Never has Zimbabwe hosted such a final in recent years.
It promises to be quite a thriller.
Zifa boss Wellington Nyatanga leads the delegation to introductions to His Excellence President Robert Mugabe who will be a guest of honour. A round of applause is handed after the introductions to the President who brought with him his three sons.
Teams walk off the pitch to the dressing room as President Mugabe finds his seat in the VVIP enclosure. It is drawing near to the big clash and fans can not wait.
40 min to go -THE Cosafa Senior Challenge final is turning out to be as big an event as tournaments of this magnitude can be with diginataries from government ministers to local authorities leadership taking their seats in VVIP enclosure.
Football leadership in the region has also descended on Rufaro for the final with Football Association of Zambia president Kalusha Bwalya who also played in the same tournament for the last time in 2006 taking his seat alongside Cosafa boss Suketu Patel. New South African Football Association boss Nematandani also registers his entry into the stadium as noise levels increase in the stadium.
The Zimbabwe Warriors team appearance is greeted with huge cheers especially from the notorious Vietnam and City End stands.
It is an hour before kick of the Cosafa Senior Challenge final and the fabled Rufaro stadium is still filling up as fans troop into the stadium which is already 75 percent full. The fans were warmed by a band school majorettes whose excellent displays were as thrilling as ever.
The ball boys troop onto the pitch displaying the Fifa Fair Play banner alongside the Cosafa banner as teams preparing for warm ups ahead of match. The noise levels are increasing in the stadium as fans continue to come in their droves ahead of the match.
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