DeMbare in driving seat

By Petros Kausiyo

HARARE giants Dynamos put aside their boardroom woes to secure a crucial victory over bitter rivals Highlanders.

With it, they gained three points that could prove decisive on the final day of the CBZ Premiership race.

There were genuine fears that the resurgence of boardroom squabbles at DeMbare could have a negative impact on the team’s performance in the latest of their Battle of Zimbabwe clashes against Bosso.

Club chairman Partson Moyo and secretary-general Stan Kasukuwere have had a serious fall-out which had appeared to suck in the players and the technical team.

Both Moyo and Kasukuwere were at Barbour-fields for the big match, but despite the two Harare businessmen having publicly indicated last week that they were making efforts to mend ties, there is no sign of an immediate thawing of relations.

There had also been reports earlier yesterday that the DeMbare board had fired Moyo with the club’s founding fathers reportedly having voted for the ouster of the executive chairman.

But club chief executive Casper Muzenda dismissed those claims.

Although he declined to discuss the problems in the club’s executive, Muzenda — who is also the board secretary — insisted that the Dynamos board of directors led by Richard Chiminya was still to meet to discuss the feud between the chairman and the secretary-general.

“There is nothing like that (Moyo’s dismissal). The board has not even met. I am the one who co-ordinates board meetings and as far as I know, no meeting has been held over that matter yet,’’ Muzenda said.

Moyo yesterday also maintained that he was still the DeMbare chairman after rescinding his decision to quit the club at the persuasion of the board.

Chiminya had earlier last week made it clear to the warring principal figures in the Dynamos executive that he did not want the team’s championship aspirations to be disturbed by their squabbles.

Coach Elvis “Chuchu’’ Chiweshe also distanced his technical department from the squabbles and Dynamos responded by securing a vital win against their old foes.

Diminutive former Masvingo United midfielder Milton Makopa struck the winner after just 14 minutes with yet another beautiful goal at Barbour-fields, following a clever pass from Benjamin Marere from the edge of the penalty box.

The last time Makopa was out at Barbourfields on DeMbare duty, he also struck a fine volley that sent Njube Sundowns reeling out of the BancABC Sup8r Cup.

Going into the weekend programme, DeMbare had the toughest of assignments among the three teams that have the realistic chance of winning the championship.

Second-placed Gunners had a relatively easier task against Mutare newboys Highway at Gwanzura while rank outsiders CAPS United faced a cagey assignment against Lengthens in a Harare derby at Rufaro.

A David Rediyoni second-half strike gave Gunners victory over Highway who finished with 10 men following the 68th minute expulsion of defender Tofirei Sambo.

Gunners have been breathing heavily down Dynamos’ neck and although they failed to really get into the groove largely owing to the long break necessitated by Zimbabwe’s staging of the Cosafa tournament, the ambitious Harare outfit will tell anyone who cares to listen that: “there is no bad win after all’’.

Resurgent CAPS United were just too polished for an out of sorts Lengthens and ensured there was nothing to smile about for the Happy with a convincing 3-1 victory at Rufaro.

With Makepekepe’s Warriors legion of goalkeeper Edmore Sibanda, Method Mwanjali, Gilbert Mapemba, skipper Ashley Rambanapasi, Tafadzwa Rusike and Nyasha Mushekwi in inspired form and carrying on from where they left off with the Cosafa Cup winning national team, CAPS United were full value for their fine win.

Premiership leading marksman Mushekwi headed home CAPS United’s opener to take his season’s tally to 21 and even had the luxury of missing a host of close opportunities as Makepekepe turned on the style in the second period, at one stage exchanging more than 15 passes before Lengthens got hold of the ball.

But for all their brilliance in the final run-in Lloyd Chitembwe and his side will probably reflect on their mid-season slump in form as the difference between them being at the summit of the log table and running in a distant third.

After their victory over Lengthens, CAPS United will now turn their attention to their home clash against Black Rhinos at Rufaro tomorrow where Rambanapasi and his troops will be hoping for another fine afternoon in the office to keep the pressure on the leading pair.

However, that Dynamos emerged, with the priceless points ensured they remained very much in control of their title hopes.

DeMbare have a knack of doing well when they are faced with off-field problems and their win over Bosso will leave them high on confidence ahead of their next assignment against Kiglon at Rufaro on Sunday.

Against Bosso, Dynamos also missed a number of chances with their chief marksman Cuthbert Malajila, Benjamin Marere and Phillip Marufu guilty of missing chances.

Army side Black Rhinos finally found a way to win again after a forgettable and winless period under outspoken coach Gishon Ntini.

Substitutes Kastigu Juwakinyu and former Eagles midfielder Devon Chafa rose from the bench to grab a goal each to inspire Rhinos to a comeback 2-1 win over Underhill at Baghdad.

It was the soldiers’ fifth win in 27 starts, but crucially for new coach Victor Mapanda, the win over Underhill in the relegation dogfight took their points tally to 22 points, seven behind 11th placed Bantu Rovers.

Mapanda will be hoping the soldiers win their remaining three games and launch a great escape from the drop zone.

Champions Monomotapa continued to blow hot and cold and on Saturday they fell to a solitary Elliot Matsika goal against Shooting Stars.

At Motor Action Sports Club, Warriors assistant coach Joey Antipas was left a hugely relieved man as the Mighty Bulls shook off their draw specialists tag to overcome Njube Sundowns 1-0 in an otherwise dull affair.