News (4)
DYNAMOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 (1)
CAPS UNITED . . . . . . . . . .0 (1)
THE big Harare derby is still alive. Never mind that this time around, Dynamos and Caps United met at a time when they were both immersed in the relegation zone; yesterday's contest was played in true derby spirit.
Both sets of fans probably went home with hope restored that their teams can revive themselves and still make a mark this season.
DeMbare fans turned out for the match despite calls for a boycott, which fell flat.
Dynamos fans who planned a get-together in Highfield missed out on the enthralling entertainment produced in this derby.
The match was watched by a lively crowd and those who believe that this fixture has lost its place among the biggest in the league are fooling themselves.
The two teams are trying to find their feet with new regimes in their dugouts. Yesterday's match was about the fans trying to make sense of what Saul Chaminuka at Dynamos and Ian Bakala at Caps United are trying to do.
Dynamos played with a lot of energy, with some sharpness in their passing, although they created precious little in front of the goal, particularly in the first half.
For long periods, Caps United struggled to match Dynamos until late on, when they could and should have won it.
After first half blanks, the second half started on an electric note with DeMbare breaking the deadlock from the penalty spot through skipper Emmanuel Jalai with no fuss, six minutes after the break.
He could have doubled the lead a few minutes later, but he fluffed his lines.
Caps United restored parity 20 minutes after the break through a sublime finish by Kundai Benyu, his first strike in the local league. He received a pass and picked up his spot to beat Prince Tafiremutsa in goals for Dynamos.
The goal triggered song and dance among the Caps faithfuls who had been silenced by the Jalai goal.
Chaminuka said he expected his team to win yesterday's match, but he was pleased with the way his players had responded to his methods.
"I wanted to win this match, we believed we could win it. We did well except for that mistake where Caps United profited. We need time together. Maybe after a month, that’s when we will be ready to produce what we are working towards. But so far, I am happy. We have a young team, these boys are willing to learn, which is good. Today, it was easy planning for Caps, I didn't think Bakala would change too many things, they played the long ball and went wide looking for that cross. We had prepared for that and we dealt with it well," Chaminuka said.
Bakala, on the other hand, said that he is still trying to change "a few things".
"Today, I am happy that we didn't lose this match, although I felt we could have won it. The priority is to get out of the relegation zone and ease the pressure. I like the application by the boys so far; they are working hard. From what I saw before, I think there is an improvement."
Both sets of coaches are looking forward to the transfer window, where they can replenish.
Chaminuka wants to fortify his defence and make an improvement in the attack.
Bakala would not give away much about his plans, but he, too, is hoping to bring in a few players.
Yesterday, Bakala played a 4-4-2 formation, where he also made wholesome changes to the starting XI after changing the system.
Teams:
Dynamos: Prince Tafiremutsa, Emmanuel Jalai, Abel Gwatidzo, Raymond Uchena, Shadreck Nyahwa, Brandon Jerimani (R. Chingwara, 81st min), Frank Agyemang, Valentine Kadonzvo (E. Perezo, 68th min), Vusa Ngwenya, Tellmore Pio, Leeroy Mavhunga (E. Chikona, 78th min)
CAPS Utd: Stephen Kwaku, Bruce Kangwa, Wesley Milanzi, Jimmy Dzingai, Matongo, Love Raema Bissila Mabiala (J. Bunjira, 76th min), Kundai Benyu (J. Mutudza, 81st min), Tanaka Shandirwa, Phineas Bamusi, Nyasha Chintuli (E. Manokore, 76th min), Emmanuel Mbollo (J. Bakari, 66th min)
SOURCE: NEWSDAY
Mwos . . . . . . . . . (0) 2
TelOne . . . . . . . . . (1) 2
MWOS maintained their unbeaten run and remained top of the log standings after they staged a remarkable comeback to hold a nine-men TelOne in a drama filled match at Ngoni Stadium in Norton on Saturday.
The visitors looked to be cantering to a victory following Eriya Mafirenyika's 10th minute headed goal, and Milton Chimedza's brilliant finish three minutes after the restart.
Innocent Zambezi pulled one back with a headed effort on 62nd minute but the Hebert Maruwa's coached side were presented with a golden chance to restore their two goal advantage when they were awarded a penalty three minutes later after Washington Navaya was hacked from behind inside the box.
The league’s top goal scorer dusted himself up to take the penalty, but his tame effort was nowhere near good enough to beat goalkeeper Francis Tizayi who saved comfortably to deny the taker his ninth goal of the season.
It got worse for TelOne moments later when Allan Chapinduka and Kudakwashe Nyakudanga were sent off for misconduct.
It handed the momentum to Mwos, but it took them within three minutes of normal time for them to get the equaliser when Billy Veremu also found the back of the net with a headed effort of his own.
Matchday referee Trinity Dirwai then surprised those in attendance, including Warriors coach Michael Nees, when he added just six minutes of stoppage time when TelOne's protest over the awarding of the penalty lasted more than that.
But still, six minutes should have been enough for the hosts to find a winner against the battling nine-men from Gweru. However, the visitors defended stoutly to walk away with a point.
With the draw, Mwos remained top of the log standings with 23 points, four points ahead of Scottland and Simba Bhora who clash at Rufaro Stadium this afternoon.
More pleasingly for coach Lloyd Mutasa, the draw means the debutants had kept intact their unbeaten streak after 11 rounds of matches.
For TelOne, they moved to fifth place with 17 points.
Mutasa was happy that his side showed character to stage the remarkable comeback.
"You know what, God talks to different people in different ways," he said.
"Dreams came to some of our crew, and two goals was what was given to us, and two goals we scored."
"I think from the onset, from the build-up, it was clear, you know, we believed in ourselves. And we said we are not going to lose this match," he added.
On the team's unbeaten record, which is now just six behind the 17-matches record set by Zpc Kariba in 2014, Mutasa said, "Every coach would want to break records, so if we can do it we will do it. But we are not under any pressure. Our target still remains to survive relegation, but if we are to win something then it's a bonus."
Maruwa, who had Tawanda Macheke hitting the cross bar, refused to criticize his players, including Navaya, for missing chances to put the game to bed.
He also refused to comment on the match officials' performance
"I can't talk about what I cannot control," the former Dynamos coach said.
"As for Navaya, mistakes are common in football."
SOURCE: THE STANDARD
HIGHLANDERS. . . . .. . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .(1)
FC PLATINUM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 1
A TIGHTLY-CONTESTED encounter is what perhaps sums up the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League clash between Highlanders and FC Platinum at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday.
Bosso gaffer Kelvin Kaindu, although at pains to accept the result after they conceded a "soft goal", admitted it was a tough encounter.
"It was a good game. It could have gone either way. I still feel these two points were dropped. Unfortunately, we made a mistake in the way we defended and they capitalised, but we still looked good and with a bit of luck, we could have scored. I don't know how many chances we created. What's missing is the ability to convert, Kaindu said.
FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza reflected on the challenges his team faced during the match.
Highlanders overloaded the right side, and they gave us a difficult time in the first half. We made some changes in the second half and we were better. But that's football, he said.
FC Platinum kicked off the game, passing the ball around, as they tried to penetrate the Bosso defence. The moment Highlanders found their groove, they proved too hot to handle for the platinum miners.
It was no surprise when Mason Mushore fired the Bulawayo giants into the lead after a neat build-up engineered by the in-form Reason Sibanda. He picked Never Rauzhi, who laid it onto the path of Mushore, whose thumping strike from a tight angle hit the roof of the net.
Rauzhi could have made it two, but his effort was brilliantly saved by David Bizabani in goals for FC Platinum after Melikhaya Ncube had laid a sitter for him following a well-worked corner kick by Highlanders.
Against the run of play, FC Platinum equalised after Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya got the better of Lucky Mutumbi and, with the Bosso defence anticipating that the referee, Thembinkosi Sibanda, would blow for a foul, play continued and he teed it up for the former Bosso midfielder Devine Mhindirira to easily tap in, silencing his former paymasters.
Sibanda then had two golden opportunities to restore Bosso's lead after a pass from Rauzhi in the 25th minute, but failed to stretch himself to the square pass. Moments later, he was set through, but his attempt to scoop it over Bizabani was thwarted.
In the second half, Oscar Bhebhe almost gave FC Platinum the lead from a Jarrison Selemani pass, but his effort was parried by Muza weakly, and it almost rolled into the net, but missed the target by a whisker. Arthur Ndlovu injured himself in a bid to clear in the 47th minute.
Nqobile Ndlovu should have won it at the death for Bosso after a Mushore pass, but he sent it straight to the goalkeeper as the two teams settled for a point.
Highlanders: R Muza, T Dube, A Ndlovu, M Mushore M Ncube, R Sibanda, M Hativagoni, B Ncube, Ma Mushore, N Rauzhi, L Mutumbi
FC Platinum: D Bizabani, T Ndlovu, N Nyasulu, T Jubani, M Ndlovu, D Mhindirira, B Banda, H Magaya, T Ngwenya, J Selemani, O Bhebhe
SOURCE: THE CHRONICLE
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
