Dynamos get rude awakening from Kiglon

By Eddie Chikamhi

Kiglon ……………………… (0) 1 Dynamos …………………… 0

FAVOURITES Dynamos got a rude awakening in the newly branded Castle Lager Premier Soccer League campaign when they slumped to a season-opening defeat by bogey side Kiglon at Rufaro yesterday.

For all the hype that surrounded their build-up to the season that had bookmakers installing them as championship favourites, a deafening silence suddenly engulfed Rufaro and the Dynamos camp at the end of the match.

It dawned on the Dynamos faithful that not even the presence of Lloyd Mutasa on the Harare giants technical bench would stop Kiglon’s dominance over their favourite team. In the last four seasons, Kiglon have always got the better of DeMbare.

It was the same tale yesterday after Dynamos crashed to a 68th minute stri-ke by William Munondo. Kiglon, now under the guidance of former national Under-17 and Monomotapa coach Rodwell Dhlakama, should get a pat on the back for a disciplined performance that defied their troubled pre-season preparations.

The Chitungwiza outfit, who lost the majority of their players to Dynamos, matched their fancied opponents in every aspect and were duly rewarded midway through the second half when the DeMbare defenders failed to clear their lines from a corner kick.

Dynamos were punished when the ball fell on the feet of an alert Munondo who bundled his effort past hapless goalkeeper Maxwell Nyamupangedengu.

Few would have given Dhlakama and his men a chance ahead of yesterday’s game and against the background of Dynamos’ near flawless 4-1 destruction of Algerian champions MC Alger in a Champions League first round, first leg tie at the same venue.

But DeMbare were quickly reminded that that local derbies are always a different ball game.

An ecstatic Dhlakama later revealed that their game plan had centred on ensuring that Dynamos do not get the space to enjoy the passing football that had become the hallmark of their game in the last two months.

“The two teams played very well and I am happy we came up victorious. It was a balanced game.

“The plan in the first half was to frustrate them and deprive them of space to play their normal game.

“We had to fight for every ball and try as much as we can to keep possession, thereby silencing their supporters. Once we have the supporters in the refrigerator then we take the game to them,” said Dhlakama.

Dynamos had a promising pre-season build-up and had not tasted defeat in nearly 10 starts.

But Mutasa and his band, including five former Kiglon players who followed him to Dynamos, yesterday came face to face with the stark reality of losing against their nemesis.

Kiglon have posed problems to the Harare giants since they announced their arrival on the domestic Premiership scene.

Last season, with Mutasa at the helm, they stood in Dynamos’ way in the race for the Premiership title after upstaging the Harare giants 1-0 at Rufaro. The teams had also shared the spoils in a 0-0 draw in the reverse fixture.

But DeMbare have been doing well in the run-up to the new season following the arrival of Mutasa and a number of players from Kiglon. They had a decent preparation winning most of the warm-up games and their confidence levels were boosted by last weekend’s crushing victory over MC Alger.

Dynamos could, however, not reproduce the same finesse that has endeared them to the multitude of their fans who have been treated to some beautiful passing football of late. Mutasa admitted the defeat was a big wake up call in their championship aspirations.

“We never created chances as we normally do and in football if you don’t score you won’t win. Kiglon took their chance and scored. It was their day.

“But losing the first match doesn’t mean that we are out of reckoning for the title. In fact this should push us up and encourage us to work on areas that are lacking,” said Mutasa.

The influence of the midfield duo of Archieford Gutu and Denver Mukamba and the commanding experience of Guthrie Zhokinyi and goalkeeper Washington Arubi, who were away on national duty, was clearly missing in the DeMbare machine.

But Mutasa would be the first not to offer those players’ absence as an excuse. After all, they beat the Algerians without Gutu. The Dynamos attack simply looked sterile and was starved of a clean supply of balls as Kiglon covered every inch of the ground.

Not even the substitution of off-form forward Roderick Mutuma, who played as a lone striker a 4-5-1 formation, could change the Dynamos fortunes. Patrick Kumbula replaced Mutuma in the 52nd minute as Mutasa looked to enhance the attack.

But the Kiglon defence was just resolute with Danger Fourpence and Witness Nyamutsaka solid in the centre while Webster Chingodza and Bernard Gumbo were unyielding on the flanks.

Fourpence, deemed excess baggage at CAPS United, must have reminded the Makepekepe faithful who were rooting for Kiglon that he is not finished yet. They made Dynamos appear ordinary and with Mutuma wasting a few half chances that came his way, it became a really difficult afternoon for DeMbare.

Mutuma blasted his efforts over the bar in the 11th minute and again soon after the restart when he received the ball from Martin Vengesayi on the right wing. Dynamos had the better chances in the first 45 minutes and Farai Vimisayi, who partnered Tawanda Muparati in midfield, came close with a curling shot in the 27th minute but his effort just went wide.

Vimisayi had another opportunity when he weaved his way through the midfield and unleashed a long-range shot that was tipped over for a corner by Kiglon goalkeeper Stephen Chimusoro.

Kiglon, who also failed to create clear-cut chances on the afternoon, had striker Patrick Kaunda thwarted by George Magariro on the edge of the box after latching onto a low cross from industrious midfielder Conrad Whitby in the 18th minute in one of the few forays they made in the opening half.

But as DeMbare desperately sought an equaliser they left gaps at the back and Manondo almost punished them against the run of play only for David Kutyauripo to bundle the ball out for a corner.

Teams:

Kiglon: S. Chimusoro, W. Chingodza, B. Gumbo, D. Fourpence, W. Nyamutsaka, J. Matselele, C. Mukanhairi, C. Whitby (T. Mazivisa, 90th minute), Y. Ebabali (N. Maviri, 61st minute), W. Manondo, P. Kaunda (C. Mashumba, 85th minute)

Dynamos: M. Nyamupangedengu, G. Bello, D. Benati (M. Vengesayi 15th minute), D. Chafa, D. Kutyauripo, G. Magariro, T. Magorimbo, D. Maringwa, T. Muparati (N. Alifandika 67th minute), R. Mutuma (P. Kumbula 52nd minute), F. Vimisayi.