The Sunday Mail
Tadious Manyepo
Sports Reporter
Dynamos……………………………………………… (1) 2
ZPC Kariba…………………………………………….. 0
THE glamour is slowly returning to Dynamos after the Harare giants notched yet another impressive win in this entertaining Castle Lager Premier Soccer League tie at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.
This was DeMbare’s third victory on the trot after winning against Bulawayo Chiefs away and Tenax at home.
But they were not exactly rampant in yesterday’s victory, though they deserve all the credit for their tactical prowess.
It was a hard-fought victory in a match they largely played second fiddle to their opponents, who for all their dominance, continued with their struggles in front of goal.
Ghanaian Emmanuel Paga converted from the spot seven minutes into the game before man-of-the-moment Bill Antonio sealed the points with virtually the last kick of the match.
The Glamour Boys took their points tally to 16 but remain third on the log behind Chicken Inn (19) and Manica Diamonds, who also have 16 points but with a superior goal difference to Dynamos.
The Mutare side, who watched yesterday’s match at the giant facility, have a chance to move back to the summit of the table when they play Cranborne Bullets at Baobab Stadium in Ngezi this afternoon.
But there is no denying Dynamos are back to competitiveness after yesterday’s compact performance.
ZPC Kariba were the first to come out of their shell with Lloyd Gwerina especially impressive on the right flank but once they wasted a golden opportunity to surge ahead, Dynamos capitalised.
Antonio received a long pass on the right and lofted the ball into the box and Munyaradzi Diro-Nyenye, in a desperate bid to clear the lines, conceded a penalty after his right arm blocked the cross.
Paga, who has proved to be a revelation since joining DeMbare, tapped in from the spot although Arnold Munkhuli, in goals for the visitors, had his hand on the ball.
After the goal, DeMbare were doing most of the defending as ZPC Kariba kept on probing in search of an equaliser.
There was, however, no way for a team whose scoring limitations have been on display this year as Moses Demera, Vassilli Kawe Diro-Nyenye, and Collen Muleya took turns to fluff chances.
At the opposite end, Godknows Murwira’s powerful shot went over while Ralph Kawondera missed the upright with a grass-cutter just outside the box.
The second stanza started as the first had ended with the visitors dominating in every aspect of the game but Tonderai Ndiraya’s charges remained resolute with the gaffer constantly shuffling his structure.
The introduction of Samuel Makawa and Simbarashe Gorogodyo breathed life into the ZPC Kariba outfit and with a little bit of luck, they could have pegged back their hosts.
If they had been unlucky until the last five minutes, then they had themselves to blame after Makawa missed their best chance when he failed to hit the target in a one-versus-one situation with DeMbare goalkeeper Taimon Mvula.
Ndiraya hailed his men for their stout performance.
“I thought it was a fine performance from my lads. To be honest, ZPC Kariba dominated the exchanges but we were more tactical and I salute my boys,” he said.
“This is our third win on the bounce and we are happy as a team that we are starting to notch wins in the league.
“ZPC Kariba are a very good team and they played with purpose. We had to be at our best defensively and I am really happy with how we contained them and hit them on the counter”.
Ndiraya will also be hoping that their fine run will help lure back more spectators who have been worryingly conspicuous by their absence at most of the Premiership games cross the country.
His opposite number Godfrey Tamirepi said he picked some positives from his team despite the loss.
Tamirepi has been under pressure from the club’s chiefs to turn around ZPC’s fortunes before they slide into the relegation zone.
“We played so well but we were not decisive in the crucial areas.
“We controlled the game in every respect but it wasn’t our day. We will take the positives going forward,’’ he said.
Teams
Dynamos: Taimon Mvula, Sylvester Appiah, Tinotenda Muringai(Emmanuel Jalai 70 min) Frank Makarati, Shadreck Nyahwa, Keith Murera(Emmanuel Jalai 60min), Ralph Kawondera(Trevor Mavhinga 78 min) , Alex Orotomal, Bill Antonio, Godknows Murwira, Emmanuel Paga (Tinashe Makanda 70 min)
ZPC Kariba: Arnold Munkulu, Bright Chayambuka (Simba Gorogodyo 73 min) Munyaradzi Diro-Nyenye, Munyaradzi Kunyarimwe, Byron Madzokere, Collen Muleya, Newman Sianchali (Samuel Makawa 73 min) Brian Juru (Tino Chiunye 68 min) , Kawe Vassilli, Lloyd Gwerina, Moses Demera
