The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda
Sports Reporter
DEFENSIVELY, this has been Dynamos’ best start to a Premiership season in over a decade.
Even that championship-conquering squad that was assembled by Kalisto Pasuwa, who won four league titles on the bounce between 2011 and 2014, did not achieve the kind of start to a league as the current team, defensive-wise.
Pasuwa’s teams were known largely for their defensive qualities but still they couldn’t achieve the current statistics.
Dynamos have conceded just three times in the opening nine games of the 2021/2022 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League campaign.
This translates to 0,3 goals conceded per game.
They now enter Match Day 10 with the best defence in the top-flight.
DeMbare have conceded once in their last four consecutive wins.
Interestingly, it is also the first time the Harare giants have won four successive league matches since November 2017.
That Dynamos have scored just 11 goals in nine matches, a goal rate of 1,2 per game, shows how much Tonderai Ndiraya’s men are grinding results, banking mostly on a solid rear-guard that is taking no prisoners.
Only three teams — Triangle, Chicken Inn and Tenax — have so far managed to breach the Dynamos defence, which has so far shut out the likes of Yadah, Cranborne Bullets, FC Platinum, Bulawayo Chiefs, ZPC Kariba and Harare City.
Frank Makarati has been the unsung hero of that defensive shield, which usually comprises skipper Partson Jaure and Emmanuel Jalai, with Tino Muringai and Brandon Mpofu alternating, depending on the day’s formation and tactics.
Makarati needed to pass a late fitness test before the match against Harare City last Sunday, but he ended up on the scoresheet as Dynamos won 2-0 at the National Sports Stadium.
It was Makarati’s first league goal for Dynamos since moving from Ngezi Platinum Stars in February 2021, yet he has always been a constant threat whenever Dynamos get set-pieces.
His strength in the air makes him a dangerous opponent whenever he ventures forward.
Makarati profited from a Godknows Murwira free-kick to bundle home a crucial opening goal for Dynamos, and he is also tipped to play another pivotal role when DeMbare clash with Black Rhinos at the National Sports Stadium this afternoon.
It should also be remembered that it was Makarati’s headed goal that condemned Black Rhinos to a 1-0 quarter-final defeat by DeMbare in the 2021 Chibuku Super Cup tournament.
DeMbare were then knocked out by FC Platinum in the semis.
However, the Highfield born and bred star defender is now convinced Dynamos could go all the way to clinch the title “only if we remain grounded and take it game by game”.
“Dynamos are now strong; in fact, we are now strong enough to challenge for the league title,” declared Makarati, who turned 27 on March 14.
“And, we will keep pushing to achieve that goal. We will continue to work as a team, as a family and as a unit.
“It’s still early days though, so we will take it game by game.”
Although he only blossomed at Ngezi Platinum Stars, where he won the club’s Player of the Year award in 2019, back in the streets of Highfield, he was already being touted as one for the future when he was still in his teens.
He played football at Mutasa Primary and Highfield High 2 before he made it into the national Under-20 team.
He also had a stint at How Mine before moving to Ngezi in 2019.
Makarati is now slowly gaining national prominence, thanks to Dynamos’ popularity.
“The difference I have noticed between Ngezi and Dynamos is that Dynamos have a huge following.
“They (Dynamos) are a team that is always expected to win every game regardless which team you are playing against.
“They have demanding supporters. All they want are the three points, nothing else.
“Whereas Ngezi are a fairly new team in the league and are still growing, Dynamos are the biggest team in Zimbabwe.
“But, I always remember and remain thankful to Ngezi. Ndokwanga kuri kumba; they helped me a lot in terms of career advancement,” he said.
On the pitch, he has forged a good understanding with skipper Jaure.
The steady defender also has a good relationship with coach Ndiraya, whom he worked with at Ngezi.
“My relationship with coach Tonde (Ndiraya) is a typical boss-and-subordinate relationship. We were together at Ngezi Platinum Stars and I am sure we have an understanding in terms of tactics and the way he wants me to play.
“It’s all about doing what your coach tells you to do. Perhaps that’s the reason why he has been trusting me a lot.
“Coach Tonde is a highly tactical coach, he understands the players and knows exactly what he wants.
“As for Jaure, the guy has got the experience. Munhu anoziva bhora, so I am also benefitting from playing with him at centre-back …
“In football it’s about fighting for your teammates. Sometimes he helps me a lot and I also do the same. It makes life easy for us.”
Makarati is still rejoicing over last weekend’s goal but he feels the most important task now is the looming clash against Rhinos.
Chauya Chipembere have not won a league match against DeMbare since May 2017 and will be all out to break the jinx.
“It was a great feeling (scoring against Harare City). It’s always good to help your team win a match.
“That game was tough, we could have drawn the match, so scoring that opening goal kind of lifted the pressure off the boys.
“I am happy for that goal, but the focus is now on Black Rhinos. We need to keep the momentum going forward,” he said.
DeMbare have 19 points, six more than Herbert Maruwa’s soldiers, who come into this match on the back of a 2-1 win over Bulawayo Chiefs.
Rhinos have won two of their last five games and square up against a Dynamos side that have won four on the trot, scoring nine goals in the process.
Winger Bill Antonio and Ghanaian forward Emmanuel Paga have been the main men for Dynamos upfront.
Paga has scored three times in DeMbare’s last four outings.
“It’s not going to be an easy match because Dynamos are currently on a good run,” Maruwa said.
He, however, has been emphasising the need for his players to maintain maximum concentration and reminding them they are not in the league to add numbers.
Fixtures:
Triangle v Highlanders (Gibbo), Tenax v CAPS United (Sakubva), Bulawayo Chiefs v Ngezi Platinum Stars (Luveve), Dynamos v Black Rhinos (National Sports Stadium)
