DEVELOPMENTAL PLAYERS (U19S BORN FROM JANUARY 2006)

DEVELOPMENTAL PLAYERS (U19s Born from January 2006)

Dynamos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 2

GreenFuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0

MANY people thought Kelvin Kaindu was out of his mind when he took up the unenviable task of saving the sinking giants Dynamos from relegation.

However, the Zambian coach, who was recently discarded by fellow giants Highlanders, appears to be working magic at DeMbare after leading the Glamour Boys to three straight wins, including Sunday’s crucial win against fellow relegation fighters GreenFuel at Rufaro.

In fact, Dynamos have now stringed together five wins in their last five matches, factoring in the Chibuku Super Cup victories over Yadah and Simba Bhora.

The Glamour Boys yesterday returned from the half-time break a changed side and scored twice, thanks to in-form striker Jaison Kasondo in the 49th minute and a 57th-minute penalty conversion by Temptation Chiwunga.

Fan favourite Denver Mukamba also wooed the DeMbare faithful after he was introduced late on, as DeMbare recovered from a difficult first half to claim maximum points.

Mukamba could have added his name to the scoresheet but was denied by the upright from a bending free-kick taken from a distance.

DeMbare coach Kaindu showered his team with praises, although he was not entirely impressed by yesterday’s performance.

“I give credit to the team for us to pick up maximum points and score two goals which was not evident I think when the season started.

“It shows that we have improved overall play, but I think this was an average performance from the team and I think even in our planning we knew that today’s game was going to be very difficult for us and this is what happened,” said Kaindu.

“For us to have gone back at half-time 0-0 is just by God’s grace but in the second half we came up a bit strong, we managed to score two goal.

“Maybe with a bit of luck we could have scored the third goal but I appreciate and thank the team for the character that they have shown because this was not an easy game for us to play today.”

He was correct.

GreenFuel had the better of the exchanges early on with Blessing Kagudu, Garikai Dematsika and Tinotenda Meke more prominent.

Dynamos goalkeeper Prince Tafiremutsa stretched full length and prodded out a ferocious grounder from Clive Rupiya after 33 minutes.

So, it was goalless at half-time.

But the script changed soon after the restart when Kasondo found himself at the right place and nodded home the opener after taking advantage of goalkeeper Tatenda Chikowero’s blunder.

Chikowero, back pedalling a bit to position himself after a free-kick had been flighted across his goal, lost his footing when trying to deal with the aerial ball that had been turned back into play by Tendaishe Magwaza at the back post in the 49th minute. Kasondo had the easy task of heading the ball into the back of the nets, unmarked to invite frenzied celebrations from the DeMbare fans.

Before the dust had settled, Dynamos had an opportunity to double their lead when GreenFuel captain Honest Moyo handled the ball inside the box after he went down in a desperate attempt to block an effort by substitute Keith Madera.

Midfielder Chiwunga stepped up and beat the goalkeeper from the spot in the 57th minute and the Vietnam stand erupted again. With the momentum swung in DeMbare’s favour, Kasondo tried his luck from a distance with a powerful shot that forced a spill from the keeper Chikowero but the GreenFuel defenders were quick to deal with the danger.

Glamour Boys coach Kaindu made a triple substitution midway through the second half bringing in DeMbare’s man-of-the-moment Mukamba in the process.

Mukamba’s first touch was threatening but he lost balance and fell inside the box as he prepared to shoot after turning his markers.

Then moments later he was denied by the upright from a low free-kick taken from a distance. The win helped the Glamour Boys close the gap between them and the team occupying the last position of safety to just three points.

Dynamos, however, still sit in 17th place, second from bottom, despite taking their points tally to 25 points.

GreenFuel dropped to 16th place and have 27 points in the bag going into the last eight games of the season.

GreenFuel assistant coach Godfrey Tamirepi felt his team paid for their mistakes in the second half but remained hopeful of the Ethanol Boys’ survival, despite sliding deeper into relegation.

“The loss of concentration in the second half contributed to this defeat. But we are hopeful. The way we are playing isn’t bad but we have to continue working hard,” said Tamirepi.

Teams:

Dynamos: Prince Tafiremutsa, Emmanuel Jalai, Abel Gwatidzo, Tendaishe Magwaza, Clive Mandivei, Tellmore Pio (R. Chingwara, 66th min), Temptation Chiwunga (D. Mukamba, 66th min), Vusa Ngwenya, Wisdom Mutasa (E. Perezo, 66th min), Jairos Kasondo (Mavhunga, 90th min), Valentine Kadonzvo (K. Madera, 46th min)

GreenFuel: Tatenda Chikowero, Reginald Chinemo,  Honest Moyo, Collin Mujuru, Blessing Kagudu,  Rodwell Chinyengetere (N. Takawira, 67th min) Garikai Dematsika, Tinotenda Meke, Harrison Masina (N. Mutinha, 79th min), Perfect Chikwende (W. Mapuwa, 79th min), Clive Rupiya (C. Ngwende, 56th min)

SOURCE: THE HERALD

YADAH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(2) 2

NGEZI PLATINUM STARS . . . . . (1) 3

NGEZI Platinum Stars kept their title aspirations alive with a stunning come-from-behind victory, overcoming a two-goal deficit to defeat Yadah in a five-goal thriller at the Heart Stadium on Friday.

The result compounds Yadah’s growing fears of relegation, as they remain precariously close to the drop zone.

The home side got off to a dream start, with Tanaka Chikumba netting one of the fastest goals in the history of the domestic Castle Lager Premier Soccer League, scoring just 29 seconds into the match.

The early lead was doubled just after the half-hour mark when Evans Rusike finished a clever layoff from King Nadolo.

Yadah seemed to be in full control, but a shocking second half collapse allowed the visitors to stage an improbable comeback.

Substitute Delic Murimba was the hero for Ngezi, scrambling home the winner with virtually the last kick of the game.

His goal sealed a remarkable turnaround that was fuelled by a brace from Talent Chamboko.

The victory saw the Mhondoro-based side leapfrog from seventh to third on the log standings with 43 points, at least for 24 hours.

Ngezi Platinum coach Takesure Chiragwi praised his team’s resilience and character.

“I want to thank God. I think the guys did very well today, to be honest,” he said.

“We were very unfortunate to concede after 30 seconds, but we knew it was too early and we could still come back.

“You can see the boys have that belief… they showed that fighting spirit.”

Despite Yadah’s blistering start, Ngezi Platinum quickly gained control of the match, dominating possession.

Chiragwi noted that the team remained calm even after conceding the second goal.

“We knew if we kept on playing the ball, we were going to get some situations that we can go behind their defence and make sure we can score,” he added.

The visitors’ first goal was a product of that belief.

A series of quick passes released Chamboko, who beat the offside trap and finished confidently.

Although Chamboko missed a sitter to level the scores in the 52nd minute, he made amends in the 74th minute, heading home a cross from halftime substitute Ashwin Karengesha.

The pressure mounted, and another halftime substitute, Murimba, sealed the dramatic win in stoppage time.

“We kept on believing that we can do it,” Chiragwi said.

“We made the changes at halftime, bringing in Delic and also Karengesha to have that speed and also a quick, intelligent forward.

“And they gave us what we wanted.”

For Yadah, the result was a bitter pill to swallow.

They remain in 13th position with 28 points and are in danger of dropping into the relegation zone if the teams below them — Chicken Inn, Green Fuel and Manica Diamonds — collect points in their weekend matches.

Distraught, Yadah coach Takaendesa Jongwe was almost speechless after the final whistle.

“Bad day in the office ... it was a bad day,” he said.

“That’s all I can say. To try and break it down, it’s neither here nor there.

“You don’t lead two-nil and give that away at this level.”

The final score was more than just a number.

It was a symbol of a season’s trajectory.

For one team, it was a great escape.

For the other, it was a fall from grace that brings them perilously close to the point of no return.

Teams

Yadah: G Gurure, T Daka, T Vareta, A Chitauro, S Mewali, K Nadolo, M Faranando, S Masukuta (V Musarurwa, 60’), T Chikumba, (Urikhob, 53’), J Chipangura, E Rusike

Ngezi Platinum Stars: D Musariranwa, P Moyo, R Hachiro, T Chamboko, Q Amini, G Chirwa, T Munemo (A Karengesha, 46’), T Mavhudzi (N Muzenda, 66’), M Makuwe, M Mukumba, T Benhura (D Murimba, 46’)

SOURCE: NEWSDAY

Ngezi Platinum Stars . . . . . . . . . . . . 0

Triangle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0

(Triangle win 6-5 after a penalty shoot-out)

THE drama continued to unfold in the 2025 edition of the Chibuku Super Cup on Sunday as underdogs Triangle brewed the latest upset in the competition by dumping first round hosts Ngezi Platinum Stars at Baobab.

The teams had to be separated by a penalty shoot-out tie-break following a goalless draw in regulation time.

And former Young Warriors forward Delic Murimba had to be the fall guy in the shoot-out, having come in as a substitute and then later missing the decisive kick from the spot that handed Triangle the passage to the last eight.

It was a nervy finish as the tie-break evolved into a sudden death with Triangle converting six of the seven kicks via Munyaradzi Mawadza, Mainford Mudzimu, Ali Maliselo, Praise Machengete, Tawanda Chatubuka and Munashe Bamala.

Their coach Genesis Mangombe was excited by the turn of events as the Sugar Sugar Boys recovered from a false start after versatile left-back Nomore Chinyerere had the first kick saved by goalkeeper Darlington Murasiranwa.

“It’s difficult when you reach those moments,” said Mangombe.

“But in a game of football, you have to play until the end. I am happy with the character of the boys because we missed the first penalty and because of that character we came back and we managed to win the game.”

The Sugar Sugar Boys, who travelled over 600km for two Chibuku Super Cup games inside four days, returned to the Lowveld with a great deal of satisfaction, having also beaten Kwekwe United 1-0 in the preliminary round last Thursday.

Mangombe felt they could have wrapped up the game inside regulation time. He is no stranger to causing upsets against the platinum miners as he led Dynamos to their first Chibuku Super Cup success in 2023 at the expense of Takesure Chiragwi’s men.

Mangombe feels Triangle have the capacity to progress in this competition despite their woes in the league competition this season. They had efforts from Ali Sadiki and Mawadza disallowed yesterday.

“We are doing well. Even some of the (disallowed) goals, I thought the referee could have let one or two stand but it’s a game of football.

“They are close to the situation and sometimes, maybe there was an infringement; we don’t know. But we were superior. We were better than our opponents. We had so many entries into the box and had so many chances than them.

“It means we are building something, but we have a dilemma because are also fighting relegation. We will see how we are going to balance the two,” said Mangombe.

Ngezi Platinum Stars coach Chiragwi conceded defeat. Veteran Kudzai Chigwida, Qadr Amini, Nisbert Muzenda, Leslie Kashtigu and Brooklyn Katumba converted their spot kicks while substitutes Ashwin Karengesha and Murimba missed.

“Firstly, I just want to appreciate the effort from the players. But generally I think we didn’t play our normal game, to be honest,” said Chiragwi.

“It was difficult during the last minutes. Of course here and there we did manage to create some chances which we thought could take us home but that’s how it is.

“Sometimes God favours those that want it more. So, they deserved to win. They played very well. Congratulations to Triangle, and I wish them very well in the next stage.”

Triangle emulated Dynamos, Bikita Minerals and Manica Diamonds, who shrugged off the underdog tag to progress to the fquarter-finals, interestingly in similar fashion after winning penalty shoot-outs.

Scottland and MWOS also made it to the last eight. The draw for the quarter-finals will be conducted after the remaining two fixtures that were postponed.

Giants Highlanders are set to face Herentals while Chicken Inn and ZPC Kariba clash in another rescheduled game.

SOURCE: THE HERALD

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

Simba Bhora . . . . . . . . (0) 0

A SHADRECK Nyahwa goal at the start of the second half gave Dynamos a long-awaited premier league victory as they beat defending champions Simba Bhora at Rufaro Stadium on Sunday.

The midfielder slotted home into an empty net after a howler by Simba Bhora's goalkeeper, William Thole, who misjudged a Nomore Chinyerere cross following a corner in the 50th minute.

Yesterday's victory was the Harare giants' second triumph over Simba Bhora this term after beating the Shamva-based team in the season-opening Castle Challenge Cup at the end of February.

It was Dynamos' first league victory in eight matches since they beat FC Platinum 2-0 at Rufaro on November 2 last year.

Dynamos coach Lloyd Chigowe said he was still trying to integrate the club's new players into the side but was relieved to collect his first victory in four matches.

The other three matches ended in draws.

"I'm grateful for the performance by my team," a relieved Chigowe said.

"They stuck to instructions. We knew pretty well that after beating Simba in the Challenge Cup, they would come at us. But we knew that it was key for us to be able to absorb the pressure and take our chances when they came. Indeed, we managed to get the chance and we threw the ball in the net. We suffered a little bit, but in the end, we scored and managed to collect three points."

Nyahwa's goal was the first time that a Dynamos player had scored in the league this season.

Victory moved Dynamos out of the relegation zone into sixth position on the log standings with six points from a possible 12.

This was Simba Bhora's first defeat of the season. They dropped to 12th position, although they are a point away from Dynamos.

Their coach, Joel Luphahla, who was Chigowe's assistant last season, was disappointed that he could not outsmart his mentor on the second time of asking.

"It was always going to be a difficult game coming here versus Dynamos. I felt that the boys tried their best, but Dynamos was more motivated in the sense that maybe I came from here last season, so the motivation was always there. They don't want to lose to their former coach.

"I'm very confident with the team that we have. We are still trying to find ways to finish off matches. We didn't create more today, maybe half chances, but at the end of the day, we have played four games, it's a worry, it's a concern that we have scored only one goal."

A quiet opening half saw two half-decent openings, one for each side —Frank Agyemang wriggling his way into the box but the ball tangled with his feet and he couldn't shoot, with only the keeper to beat, while Blessing Moyo's free kick from range was parried away by Dynamos goalkeeper Prince Tafiremutsa at the other end moments before the break.

A triple substitute at the start of the second half for Simba Bhora saw them seizing control in midfield, but it was Chigowe's men who almost took the lead soon after the restart.

Leeroy Mavhunga slipped through Agyemang, but Thole came flying off his line to block the danger.

The Malawi international, however, made a mess of Dynamos's next attack.

Emmanuel Jalai found Chinyerere with a short corner, and the left-back clipped a high ball into the box with his weaker right foot.

The keeper charged off his line to try and cut off the cross, but completely missed the ball, which fell invitingly for Nyahwa to tap into an empty net.

Agyemang should have doubled the lead moments later when he was again picked inside the box by Mavhunga, but the Ghanaian side-footed his effort over the cross bar.

Simba Bhora took over control of the match afterward as they searched for a leveller, but the Dynamos' defence held firm to secure a crucial victory.

Teams

Dynamos: P Tafiremutsa, E Jalai, T Magwaza, N Chinyerere, C Mandivei, S Nyahwa, F Agyemang (E Chikona, 72'), T Pio, V Ngwenya, L Mavhunga (L Gwatidzo, 82'), V Kadonzvo (R Chingwara, 77').

Simba Bhora: W Thole, C Makambira (T Meke, 46') W Tafa, I Mauchi, B Moyo, I Nyanhi (B Ndereki, 46'), B Ncube, J Makunike (T Mavhunga, 46'), E Ziocha (D Mudadi, 70'), I Gurirab, W Manondo (M Hwata 70').

SOURCE: NEWSDAY