The Sunday Mail
Fungai Muderere in BULAWAYO
Chicken Inn………………………… 0
Dynamos………………………… (0) 3
IT may have taken him eight games to register a win again, but there was no mistaking the sight of a beaming and hugely relieved Tonderai Ndiraya at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday.
Ndiraya arrived in Bulawayo under pressure as Dynamos had not won in their last seven Castle Lager Premier Soccer League outings.
It cast a shadow on the 44-year-old coach’s future at DeMbare.
A fortnight ago when Dynamos lost 1-0 to Cranborne Bullets at Vengere Stadium, he publicly admitted that he was increasingly under pressure as his charges fell behind the championship race.
But much like a phoenix, Dynamos rose from the ashes with a commanding second-half show that dazzled Chicken Inn and left the Harare giants full value for their victory.
A 20-minute blitz between the 46th and 66th minutes saw centre-back Frank Makarati score from the penalty spot, Junior Makunike slid in the second from a low shot from distance and substitute Emmanuel Paga find the target with a sublime finish to end Dynamos’ winless streak.
The victory also helped third-placed Dynamos move to within two points of Chicken Inn’s tally of 41 and eight behind champions FC Platinum.
FC Platinum continued their impressive run when they edged visiting ZPC Kariba 1-0 at Mandava, where Walter Musona found the winner.
The headline act in yesterday’s Premiership Match Day 22 fixtures was no doubt at Barbourfields, the venue of forgettable scenes the last time Dynamos played a high-profile game there.
Back then in May, their Battle of Zimbabwe showdown with Highlanders ended prematurely amid an orgy of violence and pitch invasions by both sets of supporters.
It was a different story yesterday and refreshingly carnival in the stands.
The visitors spiced up the day for their multitude of fans with a top-drawer second-half performance.
After an opening 45 minutes of breath-taking shift, which saw Gamecocks chief goal-getter Brian Muza give DeMbare captain Partson Jaure a good run for his money, Dynamos turned on the power in the second period.
It was a match in which their doubted Nigerian import Alex Orotomal turned hero when he deservedly won them a penalty soon after the re-start after veteran Gamecocks captain Moses Jackson desperately hacked him inside the box.
The 41-year-old Jackson was having difficulties matching the pace of Dynamos forwards and was unsurprisingly replaced as the match wore on.
Makarati was given the responsibility to take the Dynamos penalty and he sent a rising shot that beat a diving Pride Zendera. However, it was not long when young and promising Junior Makunike added an insurance goal for DeMbare.
Ghanaian import Paga then rose from the bench to secure victory for Ndiraya’s men just two minutes after replacing Orotomal. Paga’s goal, which virtually deflated Chicken Inn spirits, touched off wild celebrations from Dynamos fans.
In conceding defeat, Chicken Inn coach Joey Antipas felt Dynamos had been the hungrier and more aggressive side and were the “better team on the day’’.
“It was terrible. A very massive defeat. But we will need to go back and regroup,” said Antipas.
Ndiraya was happy to see his side post a rare win over the Gamecocks.
“Good result after a long time after not beating Chicken Inn.
“The Platinum draw gave us all the needed confidence.
“We were in a difficult situation,” said Ndiraya.
The Dynamos gaffer is now hoping yesterday’s convincing win could be a turning point to their title chase.
Ndiraya would have also been pleased to see his side score three goals after going for four matches without finding the target.
The former Zimbabwe Under-23 coach will also probably draw some satisfaction from some solid showing by his midfield in which Keith Murera played a blinder while his defence was resolute.
TEAMS:
Chicken Inn: P Zendera, P Bernard, C Dzingai, M Jackson (Majika 62 mins), V Moyo, B Amidu (Khumalo 74 mins), I Mabunu, X Ndlovu, R Hachiro, C Augusto (Hwata 62 mins), B Muza (Pini 82 mins)
Dynamos: T Mvula, P Jaure, A Orotomal (Paga 64 mins), F Makarati, T Makanda (Gomba 75 mins) J Makunike, G Murwira, K Murera, T Mavhunga, T Muringai, E Jalai (Appiah 46 mins)
Results:
Chicken Inn FC 0-3 Dynamos FC
FC Platinum 1-0 ZPC Kariba FC
Yadah FC 1-0 Ngezi Platinum Stars FC
Cranborne Bullets FC 2-1 Harare City FC
