Dynamos off to a flyer against Buffaloes
Dynamos……. 3-0…..Buffaloes
HARARE – Dynamos began their hunt for a fifth consecutive Castle Premier Soccer League championship on a winning note as they took advantage of a poor Buffaloes at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.
An own goal by wing-back Kudzai Maramba, sandwiched by strikes from Simba Nhivi (formerly Sithole) and Walter Mukanga, was enough to give Dynamos’ returning coach David “Yogi” Mandigora a perfect start to the campaign.
Buffaloes appeared to be still enjoying the off-season bliss and never threatened Artwell Mukandi in goals for the Glamour Boys.
The visitors were just conspicuously absent from the match and should be counting their lucky stars as the champions were not at their ruthless best otherwise they would have conceded an avalanche of goals.
Joseph Takaringofa, who took charge of Buffaloes in the wake of Moses Chunga’s resignation, admitted that his side was not up for the challenge.
“I am very disappointed the team never played football today. We gave Dynamos too much respect and this is what you get if you take such a casual approach.
“Dynamos did not do anything extraordinary, but we literary gave it to them on a silver platter. But we will try to correct our mistakes from our attitude, commitment and tactics.
“We will also have to add five more players to the current squad otherwise we might be heading for difficult times,” said Takaringofa.
DeMbare, who had a couple of chances in early exchanges, surged into a deserved lead in the 11th minute when Nhivi capitalised on a defensive mix-up and rifled in a rising shot which beat goalkeeper Blessing Mwandimutsira for height.
Eight minutes later Mwaramba aided in an Oscar Machapa header off a corner kick taken by Ocean Mushure to double the advantage for the hosts. Not even a two-goal deficit could spur the army side into a fight for the three points.
Mukanga then slotted home a cross from Nhivi with eight minutes remaining to kill the match as a contest.
The midfielder celebrated his strike by signalling for the boo boys, who were beginning to boo him, to continue talking.
Mandigora conceded that DeMbare were not convincing.
“We were lucky to score those two early goals before going on to miss a number of chances . . . but it’s normal in football to miss chances.
“I am, however, happy with the result, but the performance did not please me. We will now have to quickly forget about this game and start focusing on our next match against Chapungu,” he said.
Teams:
Dynamos: A. Mukandi, S. Linyama, A. Mbara, G. Murwira, O. Mushure, S. Alimenda, W. Mukanga, R. Chitiyo, Q. Amini (F Mupasiri 84th), S. Nhivi (D. Chungwa 83rd), O. Machapa (K. Bulaji 68th)
Buffaloes: B. Mwandimutsira, K. Mwaramba, S. Nyauzima, P. Matizanadzo, J. Jambo, S. Nkatha, T. Jefrey, L. Katongomara (F. Banda 81st), J. Muzokomba, R. Mwenga, R. Dzumbunu (K. Juwakinyu 55th)/ The Sunday Mail
