De-Mbare clinch second spot

Sports — By on November 30, 2009 9:25 pm

By Augustine Hwata

Dynamos ………….. (2) 3 Shooting Stars ……… (1) 1

HARARE giants Dynamos got the consolation of finishing second in the 2009 CBZ Premiership soccer table at Rufaro yesterday and earned the second slot to represent Zimbabwe in the African Champions League next year.

Shooting Stars were missing the services of coaches Lloyd Mutasa, Callisto Pasuwa and Masimba Dinyero who were allegedly fired just hours before the game.

Club director Joel Sengeredo is said to have given instructions, in the company of bouncers, that the trio leave the team’s camp earlier in the day.

Dynamos also had their fair share of the drama off the field as a section of the fans were baying for club secretary Stan Kasukuwere’s blood.

The fans believes Kasukuwere is to blame for the team’s failure to land the league title following his alleged fallout with club chairman Patson Moyo a few weeks ago.

After surrendering the league championship to Gunners last weekend, Dynamos went into yesterday’s match under pressure to finish ahead of CAPS United, who had a slim chance of sneaking past them.

CAPS United lost 2-0 to Motor Action at Motor Action Sports Club yesterday, leaving Dynamos to comfortably claim the runners-up slot without breaking much of a sweat.

The match was evenly balanced with both teams struggling to knit passes together from the middle of the park.

Dynamos linkman Mtshumayeli Moyo was completely out of sorts while Carrington Gomba was not at his best.

Benjamin Marere completely failed to tick and only shone on one or two occasions.

However, leftback Augustine Mbara continued to impress at the back.

It was worse for Shooting Stars where Gift Bello was jittery in defence.

Elliot Matsika used his experience in partnering Limited Chikafa but they could not trouble Ephraim Mazarura, in goals for Dynamos.

Dynamos went into the lead through Phillip Marufu in the 32nd minute when he connected the ball home after David Kutyauripo had conceded a corner for Shooting Stars.

Limited Chikafa then beat an offside trap in the 39th minute to drill the ball past Dynamos goalkeeper Mazarura.

But Dynamos restored their lead a minute later when Cuthbert Malajila punished the Shooting Stars’ defence for failing to clear their lines in time.

Defender Gift Bello and Daniel Veremu failed to close in on the ball and Malajila grabbed the chance to blast the ball past goalkeeper Pedzisayi Gumiremhete.

It was Malajila’s 19th goal of the season, earning him the runners-up spot behind CAPS United’s Nyasha Mushekwi in the race for the Golden Boot.

Evans Gwekwerere rose from the bench in the second half to score Dynamos’ third goal deep in injury time.

Dynamos coach Elvis Chiweshe was happy with the result which guarantees them a place in the African Champions League next year.

Chiweshe was also impressed with the way his players handled the pressure.

“There was a lot of pressure for us. After losing to Gunners last weekend, we really needed to get a win and secure second place.

“I am happy that we have managed to do that and we will be playing in the Champions League. The team really did play well,” he said.

Chiweshe believes he has done his best at Dynamos under difficult circumstances.

“When I go into every game as a coach, my intention is to win but results can go either way,” said Chiweshe.

The match was watched by probably the smallest crowd ever for a Dynamos league match this season.

DeMbare were the home team and less than 3 000 people were estimated to have watched yesterday’s game.

At the end of the game, CBZ presented Dynamos with the runners-up medals with the majority of the fans having left.

All the Dynamos players, including those who were in the terraces, received the silver medals and a US$25 000 cheque.

By the time the presentation ended only a handful of people were still in the stadium.

There was little excitement from both teams as action away from the field of play nearly stole the show.

At Shooting Stars, coaches Pasuwa, Mutasa and Dinyero were reported to have been given the boot by club director Sengeredo a few hours before the game for alleged insubordination.

Goalkeepers’ coach Emmanuel Nyahuma took charge of the team with help from team manager Confidence Musariri.

At Dynamos, all was well on the bench but there was evidence of a major boardroom explosion with fans calling for Kasukuwere’s head after the match.

Pasuwa said Serengedo demanded to see the team list ahead of this game but the coaches only gave it to Munyuki yesterday.

“After seeing that we had omitted Veremu and Meleka, the director charged that we were bent on throwing the game.

“Remember that last week, we had a fallout with the same director over allegations of throwing games.

“We thought we had resolved the issue and were geared for the game against Dynamos.

“At training during the week we had noticed that Veremu and Meleka were not performing well and never showed commitment.

“That is why we left them out and were going to be responsible for the result as coaches.

“But here we have a director who brings bouncers to the team hotel and demands that we hand over the uniforms.

“It’s just sad,” said Pasuwa who watched the game from the terraces.

Pasuwa said Dinyero, Mutasa and himself will seek an audience with CAPS Holdings directors, the owners of the club.

While there was no love lost between the coaches and Sengeredo since last week, it was a different story at Dynamos where secretary Kasukuwere was under attack from the club’s supporters.

A section of the DeMbare supporters started to chant obscene songs against Kasukuwere, accusing the club’s secretary of bringing cheap politics to Dynamos.

Police had to use dogs to drive the rowdy supporters away from the stadium as some hooligans were threatening to manhandle Kasukuwere.

Meanwhile, Highway have been relegated from the Premiership after losing 3-0 to Bantu Rovers in Bulawayo yesterday.

Highway now join Black Rhinos and Underhill in the relegation pit.

Graham Ncube, Blessing Nyikanhete and Thabani Moyo scored for Bantu Rovers.

Highlanders ended the season on a high note with a 4-2 win over Black Rhinos at Baghdad while Sundowns earned a 1-0 win over Eagles.

Never Musvipa scored the priceless strike for the Gwanda-based side.

Teams

Dynamos: E. Mazarura, B. Tuwaya, A. Mbara, T. Maingire, G. Zhokinyu, M. Makopa, B. Marere (E. Gwekwerere, 81st minute), M. Moyo (T. Mamvura, 71st minute), C. Gomba (N. Aufandika 85th minute) P. Marufu, C. Malajila.

Shooting Stars: P. Gumiremhete, T. Chiragwi, D. Kutyauripo, P. Tafirenyika (M. Ncube 69th minute), L. Chikafa, T. Magorimbo, W. Kupera, T. Masuku (C. Kamhapa 81st minute), G. Bello, D. Veremu, E. Meleka.

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