The Zimbabwean Abbas Amidu was a marvel to watch when his side, Black Leopards, beat the amateur side, Cape Town All Stars, 5-4 to book a place in the second round of the prestigious Nedbank Cup KO competition at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane last Wednesday evening.

Amidu struck four times in a see-saw game that kept the spectators at the edge of the seats from the start to the bitter end. He got the hosts on the scoresheet in the second minute, when he stormed through the Stars defence and unleashed a thunderous shot from outside the box.

The visitors demonstrated some fighting spirit throughout the game, retaliating midway through the first half. Amidu was on target again four minutes later to bring the half time score to 2-1.

There was a flurry of goals in the last stanza. Ismael Stanfield scored the equaliser from the penalty spot after Tiyani Mabunda handled within the box. Raymond Monama scored the third for Leopards and a substitute, Brian Kgapane, scored the equaliser moments thereafter.

Amidu scored the fourth, following a beautiful pass from Raymond Monama towards the end of the game. The Stars refused to die and they struck back from a set piece on the stroke of full time via James Maseko. They ran out of luck, however, when Amidu scored the fifth in the second half of extra time.