The Sunday Mail
ZPC Kariba…………………….. (0) 0
Dynamos………………………. (0) 0
DYNAMOS have now gone for over 270 minutes without scoring, leaving the Glamour Boys 10 points behind log leaders FC Platinum, after they staggered to yet another goalless draw at Nyamhunga yesterday.
The last time DeMbare found the back of the net was on July 10 at Rufaro when they beat Border Strikers 2-0; and since then the former league champions have played out three consecutive goalless draws.
They drew with How Mine in Bulawayo on July 14, they failed to score again at Rufaro against ZPC Kariba in Week 15 and yesterday their impotence in front of goal continued at Nyamhunga.
Naturally, DeMbare coach Lloyd Mutasa – who mainly bought midfielders in the mid-season window, is a worried man.
“If you can’t score in football you don’t win matches. It is very clear that we need to work hard on our finishing when we go back home,” he said.
The gaffer handed new boy Jacob Muzokomba his debut but the former Lancashire Steel and Buffaloes striker could not solve Dynamos’ goal-scoring problems.
Roderick Mutuma came on in the second half for young King Nasama but the tall striker could not break the deadlock too.
“It was a difficult match, we created chances but they were few and far between. If you create less you are likely not to score. As for Muzokomba, well, he did well. For a first match it was okay,” opined Mutasa.
Dynamos were even lucky to come out of Nyamhunga with a point as ZPC Kariba, playing a 3-5-2 formation, suffocated the midfield and could have scored at least two had it not been for Tatenda Mukuruva’s brilliance.
The Warriors ‘keeper was called into action as early as the first minute when he did well to smoother a powerful shot by the lively Talent Chawapiwa who had roasted an out-of-sorts Ocean Mushure.
Dynamos defensive linkman Tichaona Chipunza lacked support in the absence of suspended skipper Stephen Alimenda, while Simbarashe Gorogodyo was not at his best.
DeMbare survived another scare in the 14th minute when Limited Chikafa whipped in a dangerous ball across the face of goal but it found no takers.
Mutasa reacted by bringing on Denver Mukamba after 40 minutes of play but the 2012 Soccer Star of the Year failed to live up to expectations.
ZPC Kariba’s late substitute Leonard Fiyado almost delivered the sucker punch in the 93rd minute but once again Mukuruva rescued DeMbare.
Kauya Katururu coach Sunday “Mhofu” Chidzambwa was impressed with his charges’ performance, and not surprisingly mostly with his defence as the gaffer has built a career on shutting out the opposition and grinding out less-than-glamorous victories – though that was not the case yesterday.
“We played better than we did at Rufaro in the reverse fixture; we created a lot of chances which we should have buried. I am happy with the defence, they are playing exceptionally well at the back but we need to put more effort in attack,” said Chidzambwa.
Teams
ZPC Kariba: T Hove, T Munyanduri, M Kunyarimwe, S Appiah, T Nyamandwe, T Sweswe, T Mamvura, D Chakupe (G Mangani, 70’), N Tigere (P Kabwe, 70’), T Chawapiwa (L Fiyado, 81’), L Chikafa
Dynamos: T Mukuruva, G Murwira, O Mushure, S Linyama, O Mwerahari, T Chipunza, M Mambare, B Amidu, S Gorogodyo (D Mukamba, 40’), J Muzokomba (D Mukandi, 72’), K Nasama (R Mutuma, 50’)
