The Sunday Mail
Patrick Chitumba in GWERU
WhaWha FC…………………………(0)1
Dynamos FC………………………..(0) 2
NIGERIAN Alex Orotomol rose from the bench to grab his maiden goal for Dynamos and ensure the Harare giants stay on top of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League log standings.
The lanky striker has been living in the shadows of West African compatriots Emmanuel Paga and Victor Ofori, who are from Ghana.
Orotomol was sent in for Evans Katema in the 62nd minute as DeMbare sought to find another breakthrough past plucky WhaWha, who have vastly improved their game.
And Orotomol was on hand to break the hosts’ hearts five minutes from time at Ascot Stadium yesterday.
At that moment, WhaWha seemed to be headed for a deserved share of the spoils.
The win means the Glamour Boys are now three points ahead of their nearest rivals Chicken Inn, who have a tough Bulawayo derby against Highlanders at Barbourfields Stadium this afternoon.
Ex-TelOne forward King Nadolo had given Dynamos the lead, but WhaWha fought back and levelled terms through Tendaishe Magwaza.
That was before Orotomol announced his arrival on the pitch with the goal that decided the game.
He tapped home from a rebound after WhaWha goalkeeper Terrence Chiku had repelled an acrobatic effort from DeMbare star forward Bill Antonio.
Nadolo had opened the scoresheet as he benefitted from a long delivery from Godknows Murwira before weaving past two WhaWha defenders to poke the ball beyond Chiku after 51 minutes.
The Dynamos lead was, however, short-lived as WhaWha immediately fought back through Magwaza, who tapped the ball home in the middle of a goal-mouth melee that followed a low corner-kick that had been delivered by newboy Callum English-Brown.
DeMbare’s championship bid has so far been powered by a resolute defence that gives away very little.
Their attacking line has largely been dependent on Antonio and Paga, but yesterday they had a new set of scorers.
However, coach Tonderai Ndiraya was not impressed with what he saw.
“We won but I am not happy with how the team played.
“They were complacent and we could have lost the match because WhaWha were very difficult,” Ndiraya said.
“It’s not the time to underestimate teams because we are at a time where teams are getting better with each game.
“Look at how many chances we created in the first half but Paga missed them.
“That’s not the character that we want if we are to win anything this season.
“The second half was decent but the first half did not make me happy at all. Everyone was too relaxed for a team that needed to win,’’ Ndiraya said.
WhaWha gaffer Luke Petros questioned the decision by match officials to ignore calls to halt play after their goalkeeper Chiku had been injured in the build-up to Orotomol’s goal.
“The second goal was something else.
“I don’t have the power to make decisions but I felt they needed to protect the goalkeeper after the commotion in the box, but a goal was given.
“Overall, I am happy that the fighting spirit is growing by each match and we are gaining confidence to play toe-to-toe with the giants, but now we need to work on maintaining focus until the final whistle because that is where we always lack in almost every game,’’ he said.
TEAMS: WHAWHA: T Chiku, M Sibanda, T Daka, T Magwaza, R Useni, R Horonga, M Chirwa, T Jukulile, J Barake, C. English-Brown (D Mapuwa 46’), T Chitora
DYNAMOS: T Mvula, S Appiah, K Nadolo, F Makarati, E Jalai, K Murera, E Katema (A Orotomol 62), G Murwira, S Nyahwa, E Paga (M Ofori 80), B Antonio (T Makanda 90)
