SOCCER: DeMbare rule Zimbabwe

Highlanders . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0

Dynamos . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1

DYNAMOS extended their dominance over Highlanders to eight years as the champions edged the hosts in an eventful Castle Lager Premier Soccer League tie at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday.

Roderick Mutuma’s second half strike was the decider.

Bosso fans were accused of turning violent, stoning cars and fighting running battles with the police, after the painful experience which saw their team relinquishing top spot to ZPC Kariba.

DeMbare are in second position.

Mutuma punished Bosso for missing a glut of chances, especially in the first half, when he reacted quickly to a Bruce Kangwa fluffed clearance to prod the ball home after a Simba Sithole cross on 48 minutes.

The goal took the steam out of a Bosso machine which always looked dangerous, while DeMbare will also thank the hosts’ strikers, especially Charles Sibanda and Njabulo Ncube for missing golden opportunities. Barbourfields nearly erupted just after 30 seconds after kick-off when the returning Ncube came to the end of a fine low cross by Sibanda, but shot straight at DeMbare keeper Artwell Mukandi.

The menacing Sibanda had the best chance of the match on the half hour mark.

How he missed that opportunity still baffles the Bosso faithful.

Ncube turned provider this time, his cheeky chip into space set up Sibanda face-to-face with Mukandi, who was almost desperately diving to his left, giving the dreadlocked striker all the time and choice of placement.

Shockingly, Sibanda skied his effort.

DeMbare’s latest victory was their ninth over Bosso in the last 16 league matches between the two giants.

Seven games have ended in draws.

Under-pressure Bosso coach Kelvin Kaindu snubbed the post-match interviews, vanishing into the tunnel soon after the final whistle.

DeMbare coach Kallisto Pasuwa acknowledged Bosso’s dominance in the first half and paid tribute to first half substitute and skipper Murape Murape for his tireless display.

“Highlanders should have buried us in the first 45 minutes because they were all over us. We were second to the ball most of the time and that is why we had to pull out a striker for a midfielder.

“Credit goes to Murape for the way he brought back the compactness we lacked in midfield. That is what we expect from senior players like him, he was good going forward and defensively as well.

“In the end, we won the game because we utilised our chance,” said Pasuwa.

The DeMbare gaffer hailed goal scorer Mutuma for “the extra effort”, but refused to be drawn into talking up his team’s chances of landing a fourth straight league title.

“Rody (Mutuma) is a guy who came and added firepower upfront. Our problem was that of not scoring, he is getting those goals and it is good for the team.

“I can’t talk of the championship at this stage because winning the league title is not about beating Highlanders only . . . it is about winning against ZPC Kariba, Rhinos and all those other teams.

“However, the victory boosts our morale in terms of what we want to achieve at the end of the season.”

Teams:

Highlanders: A. Sibanda, I. Mapuranga, D. Ndlovu, E. Mudzingwa, B. Kangwa, H. Madzivanyika (M. Maphosa), P. Manhanga (W. Ndiweni), I. Chindungwe, J. Ngodzo, Njabulo Ncube (K. Machazani), C. Sibanda.

Dynamos: A. Mukandi, A. Mbara, B. Moyo, T. Ndlovu, S. Alimenda, T. Magorimbo, R. Chitiyo, T. Rusike (T. Mabvura ), S. Sithole, R. Mutuma (E. Muroiwa), F. Mbimba (M. Murape)