Dynamos feel the heat in Hwange 0-0 draw
From Tobias Mandoreba in Hwange
Hwange …………………………………..0
Dynamos …………………………………0
The Colliery turned into a theatre of nightmares for Dynamos as they agonisingly watched their dream of a league and cup double wilt under the simmering Hwange temperatures after a tightly-contested Castle Lager Premier League soccer match played before a roaring crowd yesterday.
The former champions needed maximum points to continue breathing down the neck of league pacesetters FC Platinum who have now opened up a three-point lead at the top of the table after edging relegation threatened Shabanie Mine 1-0 at Mandava yesterday.
Dynamos controlled the proceedings throughout the match but for all their sweat and determination, their 770km long trip from the capital could only produce a point as Chipangano refused to be intimidated at their favourite hunting ground.
The Harare giants drew their weapons as early as the first minute with a lovely combination by Tawanda Muparati and Denver Mukamba resulting in Tawanda Muparati being fouled at the edge of the Hwange box.
From the resultant free-kick, Milton Makopa’s scorching drive was smothered by goalkeeper Petros Mhari who went on to make some crucial saves for the coalminers later in the match.
The miners response came after five minutes when Nkosana Siwela, their most consistent player this season, waltzed his way past David Kutyauripo on the left flank before releasing Andrew Tshuma who, however, found the visitors goalminder Washington Arubi alert to deal with his snap shot, from the edge of the box.
Skilful Martin Vengesayi continued to lead the DeMbare raids into the Hwange half and after 10 minutes his mazy run on the left flank came to naught after his defence-splitting pass was missed by Mukamba and Malajila with the vocal Dynamos fans already celebrating a goal. Vengesayi then had the best chance to find the opener for his side in the 20th minute when he broke loose on the left flank and came face-to-face with Mhari but he could only watch in disbelief as his volley sailed across the crossbar.
Hwange continued to skate on thin ice as they let Dynamos throw all the punches at them and had to rely on the agility of Mhari in the 30th minute as the vastly improved youngster acrobatically tipped a Malajila flashing header over the bar for a corner.
When Hwange finally decided to come out of their shell towards the end of the first half, they almost grabbed a priceless goal after the gangling Tongai Magwendere was allowed a free header inside the Dynamos danger zone but his effort whistled past the left upright with Arubi wrong-footed.
On the stroke of half-time, Vengesayi thought he had grabbed the much-needed goal for Dynamos but his effort was ruled out by Bulawayo referee Philani Ncube after he was adjudged to have controlled the ball with his hand before rolling it into the nets.
The decision infuriated the DeMbare fans who pelted the match officials with missiles as they went into the dressing rooms at half-time. Hwange’s midfield magician Nkosana Siwela fluffed a golden opportunity to silence the Dynamos fans a minute from the breather but he blazed his effort way off target after a clever set up by Magwendere.
Dynamos coach Callisto Pauswa then brought in veteran Murape Murape in the 62nd minute for the visibly tired Denver Mukamba.
The substitution added more sting to the DeMbare attack as Murape could have turned provider five minutes later when he beat Munyaradzi Mungadze for speed on the right flank before crossing for another substitute Leo Kurauzvione whose glancing header drew the save of the afternoon from Mhari.
For everything that they threw at the Hwange goal area, Dynamos were lucky not to fall victim to a sucker punch and have to reserve a bottle of champagne for Kutyauripo who heroically scooped Fransesco Zekumbawere’s grounder out of danger deep into injury time as the coalminers could have simply broken the hearts of the away fans with a very late goal.
Hwange team manager Tennant Chilumba was content. “Dynamos are a good side and I am happy with the draw as the game was very tight,” he said.
Dynamos assistant coach Tonderayi Ndiraya said he wanted to talk to his players first.
Teams
Hwange
P. Mhari, T. Sibelo, M. Mungadze (D. Boriwondo 89th minute), O. Moyo, G. Ndhlovu, A. Katebe (O. Mpofu 61st minute), A. Tshuma, N. Siwela (G. Zulu 68th minute), R. Chinyengetere, T. Magwendere, F. Zekumbawere.
Dynamos
W. Arubi, G. Magariro, D. Kutyauripo, T. Magorimbo, M. Makopa (L. Kurazvione 38th minute), M. Vengesayi (N. Alifandika 78th minute), T. Muparati, D. Mukamba (M. Murape 62nd minute), G. Zhokinyu, A. Gutu, C. Malajila.
Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Weekly Log Table and results (Week 27)
Other Results
Kiglon 0, Monoz 1; Hwange 0, Dynamos 0; FC Platinum 1, Shabanie 0; Motor Action 0, Shooting Stars 0; Highlanders 2, Gunners 1; Masvingo 0, Zim Saints 0; CAPS 4, Blue Ribbon 1; Chicken Inn 1, B. Mambas 2
FC Platinum steer clear
From Paul Mundandi in Zvishavane
FC Platinum …………………………………(1)1
Shabanie Mine …………………………….(0)0
FC Platinum were crowned champions of Zvishavane yesterday and moved three points clear at the top of the Castle Lager Premiership soccer table when they completed a double over the asbestos miners in a tightly-contested match at Mandava yesterday.
FC Platinum beat Shabanie 3-1 in their first league encounter earlier this season. Despite missing the services of Charles Sibanda,Tafadzwa Dube, Zephaniah Ngodzo and Norman Togara, the log leaders played well and are now sitting pretty at the top of the table, as their nearest title rivals Dynamos were held to a goalless draw by Hwange at the Colliery yesterday.
Shabanie, on the other hand, need to work hard in their remaining matches if they still want to play Premier League football next season as Black Mambas triumphed over Chicken Inn in Bulawayo yesterday.
The match, which was full of emotions, saw the home team getting the all-important goal from the penalty spot when the highly rated Harare-based referee Ruzive Ruzive pointed to the spot after he adjudged Shabanie defender Rodney Mware to have tripped Donald Ngoma inside the box.
The decision angered the Shabanie camp and it was coach Luke Masomere and Elvis Muuya who made sure play continued as the asbestos miners’ players threatened to walk off the pitch in protest against the referee’s decision to FC Platinum the penalty. Play was stopped for six minutes as Masomere talked to his players.
And when order was finally restored, former Black Rhinos and Highlanders midfielder Menard Mupera took the spot-kick, sending goalkeeper Victor Twaliki the wrong way in the 40th minute. He sent his effort to the left with Twaliki diving to the right and the goal sent wild scenes of celebration in the FC Platinum southern bay, which housed their fans.
“I was disappointed with the penalty. It changed the whole complexion of the match and I will not comment further,” said a visibly disappointed Masomere after the match as his players were openly crying after the defeat.
Ruzive Ruzive then made another blunder when the fourth official indicated six minutes of added time but the referee blew the half time whistle after two minutes. This prompted fans to throw missiles which hit the second assistant referee Stella Ruvinga in the head and play had to be stopped in the second half as the medical team attended to her.
Apart from all this madness, Shabanie were in control of the game in the first 20 minutes of the match. Joel Ngodzo was played wide but FC Platinum finally took charge when the former Highlanders midfielder was pushed inside where he dictated the pace of the game although Rowan Nenzou had his moments too each time he got hold of the ball.
It was after the tactical change that FC Platinum virtually won the match. It was also a sweet victory for Tendai Chikuni who was in charge of the team after his boss Rahman Gumbo left the mining town in the morning to attend a funeral.
Gumbo lost his sister. Chikuni never sat on the bench as he was standing barking instructions for the entire match.
With Platinum throwing everything in attack Shabanie survived a scare in the 27th minute. A long throw from Kumbulani on the left in the Shabanie half eluded the Shabanie tall goalminder and in a desperate effort to clear, defender Smart Muchabayiwa directed his effort at goal only for the ball to hit the left upright post and trickled for a corner.
Nenzou then weaved his way past the FC Platinum defence in the 60th minute and released a scorcher that missed the target by a few inches with the goalkeeper Tsungai Mudzamiri off-guard.
Kudzanayi Kwashi, who had a good game in the Shabanie colours for the first time, was a hero in the 86th minute when he saved his team from further humiliation when he cleared a header that nearly went in after Twaliki had come out of his line.
With the Shabanie world having crumbled Donald Ngoma shook the challenge of his marker, defender Mware with a minute to go but shot weakly from inside the box and the alert Twaliki saved his effort. “I am very happy to win. We did not play well in the first 20 minutes but later found our rhythm. Benjie (Marere) and Donald Ngoma could have scored a goal each.
“It was my first game in total control since my boss was away but winning is very good. I am also happy that we managed to silence Shabanie coach Luke Masomere and the whole town. My boys played very well and I was happy with the passing game despite missing key players. We showed character,” said Chikuni after the game.
Teams
FC Platinum: T Mudzamiri, I Ngwandu, K Banda, B Dube, B Marere, D Ngoma (W Manondo 91st minute), D Veremu, T Kamusoko, M Mupera, J Ngodzo, A Marime (N Tshuma 75th minute).
Shabanie Mine: V Twaliki, S Shoko, J Chitereki, S Muchabayiwa, P Marime (E Bakacheza 82nd minute), R Mwale, D Matsveru, K Kwashirai, R Nenzou, T Mareya (A Nyoni 54th minute, J Chizororo 75th minute),C Masocha, Z Makonese.
Pakamisa grabs brace as CAPS cut Blue Ribbon to pieces
By Grace Chingoma
CAPS United………………………………..(3) 4
Blue Ribbon…………………………………(1) 1
Washington Pakamisa netted a brace as the Green Machine cruised to victory in this Castle Lager Premiership soccer match at National Sports Stadium yesterday. CAPS United, now playing to finish the season on a better position after another disappointing season, eased into seventh position with 39 points.
Makepekepe got their first goal in the 8th minute through David Rediyoni, who shot into the nets after a fine delivery from Clive Kawinga. And three minutes later Kawinga, who was having a fine afternoon, got his name on the scoresheet when he received the ball, chested it down and buried it home.
But the weather was hot and so were coach Lloyd Chitembwe’s charges as in the 14th minute striker Washington Pakamisa headed the ball home after a neat build up by Makepekepe. Pakamisa then completed his brace after the breather, 10 minutes before full-time when he got a fine pass from the former Gunners midfielder Rediyoni and flicked it into the nets.
Blue Ribbon pulled one back just before the breather when Eria Phiri picked up his captain Daniel Kamunenga who fired the ball home. However, CAPS United chief striker Evans Gwekwerere, who has 10 goals and two shy of Premiership leading scorer Dynamos’ Rodrick Mutuma, missed out a chance to add to his goal tally as he was sitting on the terraces.
The striker is understood to have been dropped out of the team by Chitembwe, who is a strict disciplinarian, after missing out one day of training last week. However, CAPS United assistant coach Joel Lupaphla said they decided to rest the hitman and give other strikers a chance.
“You can see that the players are not under pressure but playing for a top eight finish. In the second half we played to consolidate our lead and didn’t want to bring them back into the game. We rested Evans and I am happy that the other strikers Washington and Clive got goals for us,” said Lupaphla.
Bad advertisement for football came in the 65th minute when Blue Ribbon coach Misheck Chidzambwa was involved in a near fistfight with CAPS United marshals manning the dressing rooms after he was denied entry when he had left the bench to go to the changing rooms.
Two Blue Ribbon officials were being denied entry into the changing rooms and Chidzambwa left the bench to join in the fracas which nearly degenerated into a fist-fight while some overzealous CAPS United fans threw in some missiles.
When asked about the incident during the post-match interview, Chidzambwa went ballistic and walked away, saying he was being asked questions which had nothing to do with football. On the defeat Chidzambwa praised his opponents. “CAPS United were the better side and deserved to win,” said Chidzambwa.
Teams
CAPS United: E Sibanda, T Kumbuyani, D Sengu, T Munyanduri, D Walaza, S Alimenda (E Chafungamoyo 62nd minute), A Nhongo, P Tafirenyika, D Rediyoni (C Chiutsa 82nd minute), C Kawinga (T Samanja 75th minute), W Pakamisa.
Blue Ribbon: T Zvaita, E Mwinga, C Mashumba, B Tuwaya, J Jam, E Phiri (M Mambacho 78th minute), C Rukwanhi, D Kamunenga, E Katema (F Kuswatuka 27th minute), C Boroma, S Choenda.
