Dynamos…………(1) 1Highlanders……..(0) 1(Dynamos won 5-3 after a penalty shootout)IS Emmanuel Jalai now the favourite for the Soccer Star of the Year award?The diminutive defender scored what could be the Goal of the Season so far this year and then converted a penalty as the Glamour Boys marched into the final of the Chibuku Super Cup.They will meet Triangle, who shocked MWOS 2-0 in the other semi-final at Ngoni, on Saturday.Dynamos will be hoping to become the first club to win the Chibuku Super Cup for the third time on the trot.Throughout their success in the tournament, in the past few years, DeMbare have turned themselves into specialists of the penalty shootout.And, yesterday, they converted all their five penalties through Jalai, Temptation Chiwunga, Felix Kwaku Hammond, Tellmore Pio and Abel Gwatidzo.Bosso fought long and hard but one miss in the shootout sealed their fate and it means they will go into their Centenary Celebrations last year without a major trophy to spice their party.Melikhaya Ndlovu had drawn Bosso level in the second half to ensure that, for the second Sunday in a row, the battle between the two giants ended in a 1-1 draw in regulation time.But, this story will not be enough without giving special mention to Jalai.The roving defender has been the shining star at Dynamos all season and has led from the front.And, yesterday, he scored probably the best goal of his career.A quick free kick saw Jalai receive the ball and, from distance, he balanced himself and then acrobatically volleyed the ball into the top corner leaving goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda stranded.Even if he had moved, it’s unlikely that he would have stopped the ball which was hit with both power and precision and was a throwback to a time when the promise of such goals lured fans to the stadiums in their numbers.The big question now is whether Jalai can go on and win the Soccer Star of the Year.It’s rare for the selectors to choose a man who would have played for a club which flirted with relegation all season.The selectors normally go for the man whose club would have won the championship and that has been the trend in the past few years.Walter Musona won the Soccer Star of the Year award last season after powering Simba Bhora to their maiden league title last season.He also won the same crown when FC Platinum ruled the roost in the domestic Premiership.The good money last year was on Khama Billiat winning the Soccer Star of the Year and the public also felt the same when they voted him their winner of the award.However, the selectors went for Musona, simply because he had helped Simba win the championship. (Dynamos won 5-3 after a penalty shootout) IS Emmanuel Jalai now the favourite for the Soccer Star of the Year award? The diminutive defender scored what could be the Goal of the Season so far this year and then converted a penalty as the Glamour Boys marched into the final of the Chibuku Super Cup.
They will meet Triangle, who shocked MWOS 2-0 in the other semi-final at Ngoni, on Saturday. Dynamos will be hoping to become the first club to win the Chibuku Super Cup for the third time on the trot. Throughout their success in the tournament, in the past few years, DeMbare have turned themselves into specialists of the penalty shootout. And, yesterday, they converted all their five penalties through Jalai, Temptation Chiwunga, Felix Kwaku Hammond, Tellmore Pio and Abel Gwatidzo.
