Mutuma snatches last-gasp winner
By Grace Chingoma
Dynamos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 2
ZPC Kariba . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 1
RODRECK MUTUMA was the Glamour Boys hero as his double strike, including a last-gasp winner, spoiled Sunday Chidzambwa’s homecoming show and gave Dynamos a Castle Lager Premiership victory they barely deserved at Rufaro yesterday.
On an afternoon of high emotions, Chidzambwa was given a standing ovation by a Vietnam that still values the role that the legend played in turning the Glamour Boys into the dominant force on the domestic football scene, as a player and coach, even though he was now fighting in the opponents’ corner.
Then, on a day when ZPC Kariba deserved a point, if not even more, after an inspired performance against the champions, Mutuma popped up at the right place, at the right time, to head home the winner with virtually the last touch of the game.
And, that goal, dramatically changed the mood at Rufaro after the DeMbare fans in Vietnam had turned against their coach, Tonderai Ndiraya, with a song that not only mocked him but reminded him of the challenges that come with occupying the hottest seat in domestic football.
Given the love that the same fans had poured out to Chidzambwa, before the game got underway, it’s hard not to see the possibility of a reunion, if not soon but certainly later, between the Glamour Boys and their most successful coach in history.
A week after his men snatched a last-gasp goal to force an equaliser against CAPS United, and take their Chibuku Super Cup first round tie into a penalty shoot-out they won easily, Chidzambwa was at the receiving end of a late goal that ensured his troops went back home empty handed despite a spirited show in which their superiority was not even questionable.
Football can be very cruel.
Chidzambwa had twice, in the second half, warned his defender, Dennis Dauda, that he was being guilty of letting Mutuma steal a march on him and, in the decisive moment of the game, the veteran gaffer’s fears came true as the lanky DeMbare forward got in front of the centre-back to head home the winner.
It was also DeMbare’s first league victory over ZPC Kariba since their opponents came into the Premiership last year and came agonisingly close to turning themselves into champions only to lose on the final hurdle.
“I am so excited. It was long since we won a league match,” said Mutuma.
“We kept pushing and I would like to say thanks to the guys (teammates), they never lost heart. We are the champions and champions push to the end.
“(Takesure) Chinyama is our leader and is very experienced having played for years in Europe and we take notes from him as he is always showing us how to do things and personally he is my friend that’s why we are understanding each other very well during play.
“We need to keep on fighting and remain united as a team and even our fans they should rally behind us when the going is tough and not let us down.
“I want to help the team win and I will try to score many goals. I am not really bothered about personal glory but just helping the team win.”
Ndiraya said the combination between Chinyama and Mutuma could help them in their battle for immortality as they fight to become the first side in the domestic Premiership to win five straight league titles.
“I think their combination is quite deadly. These guys started playing football this half of the season and their fitness is not yet up there but they created a lot of chances in the first half between the two of them but could not put them away,” said Ndiraya.
“And we had to be patient with Rodreck in the second half and he gave us a goal.
“This is football and we are Dynamos but we have to be very strong if we want to stay with the top teams and the Triangle match (this week) is another tough game for us.
“We conceded early and I think it was lack of concentration from Sydney (Linyama) but that is football, it was early in the game and everyone had not yet settled but we then pushed and got that early goal and it brought us back into the game.
“I think we controlled the first half of the game.
“We have not been winning many games at home but I am glad today we won at home and collected maximum points and I hope this will spur the guys on and hope to collect more points in the coming matches.
“I just told the players that a match of football is played over 90 minutes and they kept pushing.”
Mutuma had earlier cancelled out a penalty, converted by Raphael Manuvire, although Chinyama, who provided the assist, looked miles offside as he ran into acres of space on the right and then delivered a perfect ball across goal.
And, on a day when everything appeared to go against them, ZPC Kariba fashioned out some good chances, including one that should have been converted by Limited Chikafa, with just 10 minutes of regulation time left, but could not make them count.
Protasho Kabwe fluffled his lines, when through on goal, Thomas Sweswe fired first time, when he needed to take another step, while also missing a very good chance with a header on the back post, while young ‘keeper Tatenda Mukuruva made some good saves.
A good contest, in which DeMbare were lively but second best, was then decided with virtually the last touch of the game when Mutuma pounced to give the champions maximum points.
“We defended like amateurs in the last few minutes. That’s amateurish,” charged Chidzambwa.
“We took out George Magariro for the same reason that we were not positioning ourselves correctly in the defending third and we wanted to pick up man-for-man but then conceded a goal like that . . . I won’t tolerate a defender (Dauda) who lets in such a simple goal.
“I am very disappointed after fighting for all this way for 90 minutes and you concede a simple goal, a header. I am very disappointed.
“The guys played well but they could have added a bit of fighting spirit towards the end and we could have come out as victors, remember Limited missed a sitter with ten minutes to go, these things happen in football.
“We lost the match but we are going back to the drawing board and pick it up from there.”
Teams
Dynamos: T. Mukuruva, O. Mushure, O. Mwerahari, E. Muroyiwa, G. Murwira, S. Linyama, C. Rusere (M. Mambare 80th minute), S. Alimenda, R. Chitiyo, R. Mutuma, T. Chinyama (R. Kawondera 72nd minute).
ZPC Kariba: T. Hove, T. Sweswe, D. Dauda, G. Magariro (S. Appiah 66th minute), D. Phiri, P. Kabwe (P. Tafirenyika 73rd minute), T. Munyanduri, R. Manuvire, T. Rantokane, T. Nyamandwe (L. Fiyado 66th minute), L. Chikafa. The Herald
