Eddie Chikamhi
Zimpapers Sports Hub
FROM total obscurity, Genesis Mangombe rose to prominence two years ago when he guided Harare giants Dynamos win their first major silverware in a decade by lifting the Chibuku Super Cup.
Dynamos denied Ngezi Platinum Stars a chance to complete a league and cup double when they edged the Mhondoro miners in the 2023 final at Baobab.
That success in the Chibuku Super Cup also helped end Dynamos’ long absence from continental football as they punched their ticket to the CAF Confederation Cup.
Mangombe, who had previously coached Black Mambas and Yadah, boosted his profile following that feat which ensured Dynamos returned to the African safari for the first time in 10 years, despite their known challenges on and off the pitch.
His curriculum vitae, anchored on the Chibuku Super Cup success, ensured he was not short of big offers after leaving Dynamos as he joined ambitious side Scottland before crossing the borders for a brief stint in the Tanzanian top-flight league.
Now back home at Triangle, the 43-year-old will begin another campaign in the Chibuku Super Cup tomorrow, but with a different club.
Mangombe is now the Triangle head coach, where he has breathed new life in the Lowveld side’s relegation battles.
He inherited a Triangle outfit that was clearly out of sorts under Luke Masomere, which subsequently saw the veteran coach become the first to be fired in the league in the 2025 campaign.
Triangle will start the cup competition from the preliminary round against Kwekwe United because of their poor placing at the time of the draw.
The bottom four teams begin from the preliminary round and winners will join the top 14 teams in the first round this weekend.
Struggling defending champions Dynamos will get the ball rolling against Yadah at Ngoni today while Triangle will get their campaign underway against Premiership newboys Kwekwe United at neutral Mandava tomorrow.
“If you have tasted what it means to be successful in a certain area, you would obviously want to do it again. That’s what I am hoping for,” said Mangombe.
“The good thing is when you have walked a certain road you get familiar with the terrain. What I like about cup games is that the route to success is shorter and less complicated compared to the league marathon.
“If you win two or three games you are already in the semi-finals, and depending on the team strength and preparation, anything can happen in the final. Everyone has an equal chance of winning despite the form or stature of the team.
“So doing well in the Chibuku Super Cup will be something special for us at Triangle.”
This Chibuku Super Cup assignment comes on the back of an encouraging run for the Sugar Sugar Boys, who have recovered from being the league’s whipping boys under previous coach Masomere.
Triangle are unbeaten in their last 11 league games, having last lost a match on May 25.
However, the downside of that streak is the fact that they have not been able to turn most of the draws into wins after featuring in eight stalemates and managing three wins.
On paper, Triangle have the easiest task as their opponents Kwekwe United have been struggling to meet the demands of Premiership football, with just one win to their name after 24 games.
The Midlands side are saddled with financial challenges and low confidence after losing 17 of their 24 games this season.
While Triangle are coming from a 1-1 draw against Yadah in their last league game, Kwekwe United were as has seemingly become the norm, beaten, 3-1 by Herentals at Rufaro on Sunday.
Triangle also carry the psychological advantage after beating the Premiership debutants 3-0 when the sides met in a league match earlier in the season. However, cup games remain unpredictable and the winner of this will advance to the first round where 2016 winners Ngezi will be waiting in ambush.
Chibuku Super Cup Fixtures:
Today: Yadah v Dynamos (Ngoni)
Tomorrow: Triangle v Kwekwe United (Mandava)