Dynamos ‘De Draws’ draw again

By Augustine Hwata

Dynamos………………………………………(1) 2

FC Platinum…………………………………..(0) 2

HARARE – Washington Pakamisa struck a memorable brace for Dynamos, but his goals were only good enough to help the champions come from behind to force yet another draw against pacesetters FC Platinum at Rufaro yesterday. 

The brace saw Pakamisa take his tally to three goals in two games since his move to Dynamos at the start of the season. Pakamisa broke his Dynamos goal duck when he found the opener in their 2-0 win over Tripple B at Mandava last Sunday.

Yesterday, the former CAPS United skipper scored a volley that could be a top contender for the goal of the season when he got to the end of a delivery from his captain Murape Murape to thrust DeMbare into a 27th minute lead.

But the visitors clawed back into the game when Winston Mhango curled the ball beyond an advancing Artwell Mukandi in the 55th minute. FC Platinum then seized the initiative in the 67th minute when Charles Sibanda headed in a corner kick from Ali Sadiki.

At one point FC Platinum were smelling that a maiden victory against Dynamos was coming their way but Pakamisa, who had been outstanding in the first half, rescued a point for the Harare side.

Pakamisa initiated the move wide on the flank before he made an intelligent run into the box to receive the return pass and slot the ball past Petros Mhari in the 73rd minute.

The result means Dynamos were back to their drawing ways again and more worryingly for the Glamour Boys camp, their team has not won at Rufaro in the league this season. In their other matches at their favourite hunting ground, the champions could only manage draws against Chicken (1-1) Triangle (0-0) and Highlanders (1-1).

Dynamos have also had to come from behind in all their scoring draws at Rufaro heightening suspicions within their dressing room that their side has been cursed at the old home of football.

But with FC Platinum having been the in-form side and losing only once to lead the log standings with 16 points on superior goal difference over Highlanders, Dynamos coach Callisto Pasuwa could still take comfort that his stuttering team still managed a point and kept their unbeaten run intact.

For FC Platinum, the point was equally priceless as it was their first against Dynamos since the Zvishavane side were promoted into the PSL in 2011.

In their first season, FC Platinum lost the first match 2-0 at Rufaro with Desmond Maringwa and Martin Vengesayi finding the target while Daniel Veremu scored an own goal as the miners lost the championship decider at Mandava.

Last year a brace from Tawanda Muparati helped Dynamos to a victory at home while Denver Mukamba and Farai Mupasiri’s efforts at Mandava saw De DeMbare registering yet another win.

But yesterday, FC Platinum threatened to change the balance of power as they first cancelled out Dynamos’ lead but failed to hold on to their advantage.

Pakamisa, who was deemed excess baggage at city rivals CAPS United showed a lot of promise from the start when he twice missed from the edge of the box in the opening 10 minutes.

Dynamos also wasted a chance to take the lead when Thomas Magorimbo made a penetrating run on the right but his square pass into the box was poor while veteran Murape failed to execute a goal after slipping with Mhari at his mercy.

FC Platinum also probed the Dynamos goal when Charles Sibanda exchanged passes with Joel Ngodzo but the defence was alert while at the other end Dynamos players tried to beat Mhari with long range attempts.

Dynamos employed a double defensive midfield partnership of Devon Chafa and Stephen Alimenda with Ugandan Boban Ziruntusa playing behind the strikers but gangly Thabani Kamusoko did his best to form the visitors’ first line of defence.

The match continued to be a cliffhanger as Dynamos sought to increase the lead while Platinum were more than happy to share the spoils and repelled everything thrown at them until the final whistle.

FC Platinum coach Tenant Chilumba said they were happy to collect the single point on the road as they consolidated their position at the top of the log.

“We are very excited about the result and it’s a point from home when we are playing the Zimbabwean champions. I am very happy with the point. We struggled to chase the game because we had wanted to be on top of them (Dynamos) until maybe in the last 15 minutes,” said Chilumba.

Chilumba believes his master stroke was when he pulled out Donald Ngoma who had failed to click, playing along Nelson Maziwisa up-front.

“It was a tactical move to bring him out but we have to keep on encouraging him and I give credit to the technical team because we were reading the game from the bench,” said Chilumba.

While Chilumba was happy with the point on the road, it was back to the “drawing back” for Pasuwa whose team has been nicknamed “Dynamos De Draws’’.

“We were not attacking in numbers and they were having much possession hence they got an equaliser and even a lead. It’s sad on our side to register yet another draw, our sixth of the season. We wanted as much to collect the three points, unfortunately we could not get them,” said Pasuwa.

After FC Platinum took the lead, Pasuwa sought to add impetus to his attack resting the old legs of Murape and Alimenda for Tichaona Mabvura and Cliff Sekete.  The Herald

Teams

Dynamos: A. Mukandi, T. Magorimbo, P. Jaure, B. Ziruntusa ( P. Khumbula 55th min), S. Alimenda ( T. Mabvura 75th min), M. Murape (C. Sekete 75th min), D. Chafa, P. Pakamisa, T. Muparati, G. Bello.

FC Platinum: P. Mhari, J. Ngodzo (M. Katsvairo 82nd min) C. Sibanda, D. Veremu, T. Kamusoko, D. Ngoma (I. Nekati 34th min), E. Moyo, K. Moyo, W. Mhango, N. Maziwisa, A. Sadiki