By Augustine Hwata
Shooting Stars.........................................................................0 Dynamos............................................................................(1) 2
HARARE giants Dynamos finally ended 10 years of waiting when they were crowned CBZ Premiership champions following their victory on a rain swept afternoon at Gwanzura yesterday.
Dynamos’ win over Shooting Stars coupled with nearest rivals Highlanders 1-0 upset defeat by Monomotapa at Barbourfields ensured the championship battle ended with two games before the curtain comes down on the season.
It did not mater that the heavens opened up before and after the match at Gwanzura yesterday as Dynamos fans erupted into song dance with sporadic parties also being reported across the country.
Yestreday’s triumph also guaranteed Dynamos of a are league and cup double and came seven days after they overcame Highlanders in the CBZ FA Cup final at Barbourfields.
Coach David Mandigora became the first mentor since Sunday "Mhofu’’ Chidzambwa in 1997 to guide Dynamos to a league championship and the former Warriors midfielder was naturally over the moon as he raced onto the pitch embracing each of his players after news filtered in from Buklwayo that Bosso’s challenge for the title had ended following their defeat by Monos.
Talismanic Murape Murape, the heart and soul of DeMbare set his team onto the victory path when he struck with a powerful close range shot in the seventh minute before resurgent Sebastian Mutizirwa sealed the victory when planting a second half header.
Murape and veteran midfielder Desmond Maringwa who also had a fine showing yesterday were the only survivors from the class of 1997, which last brought championship glory to Dynamos.
DeMbare now lead the table with an unassailable 58 points while closest rivals and outgoing champions Highlanders are on 51 points and will not even catch up on the tally even if they win their remaining two games.
Murape struck in a crowded box and was instrumental in the second goal when he sent in a high cross that found Mutizirwa to nod past out of sorts goalkeeper Philip Nhete in the 68th minute.
Murape had also done well to prevent what would have been a Shooting Stars equaliser when he cleared from the line Barlon Chiseko’s effort with goalkeeper Willard Manyatera beaten.
Despite rushing to embrace his players in their finest hour, Mandigora remained modest in his post match interview, even in his greatest moment as coach.
"At least we can now afford to smile.
"It has now been easy for us, the road to the championship was tough but I would like to thank the players for remaining resolute.
"The supporters have also rallied behind us and played their part and I would like thank everyone including our executive and the technical staff," said Mandigora.
Such was the emotion in Mandigora that he found it hard to describe the feeling of being a championship winning coach.
"It difficult to say now, I wish you do not ask that," he said.
Since Chidzambwa’s championship winning side, Dynamos had several coaches such as expatriates Zoran Pesic, Clemence Westerhof and Keegan Mumba and locals Luke Masomere, Moses Chunga and David George, who all tried and failed to land the ultimate prize in domestic football, with Mumba coming within just just three points of the title in 2003
But for Mandigora, who had a love-hate relationship with the Dynamos fans throughout the season, he has every reason to walk tall and smile.
Mandigora, however insisted there was no time to rest as their triumph earned them a ticket to repsent Zimbabwe in the African Champions League.
"It is for the executive to decide if we will be playing in the Champions League or the Caf Confederations Cup or not.
"But personally I would love to play in the Champions League," said the 1980 Soccer Star of the Year.
Mabndigora also revelaed his worry about the prospects of his players losing their focus in the wake of in-house problems torched by a dispute over bonuses from the CBZ FA Cup.
"A lot of events happened during the week and I was worried as we came into the game.
"But I am happy that the players managed to remain focused," he said.
Dynamos players had been fighting their executive over the distribution of prize money from the CBZ FA Cup and refused to train on Friday, threatening not to fulfil yesterday’s game.
The players were not happy with the $288 million credited into their accounts for their participation in the CBZ tournament and on Saturday it was resolved to give $100 million for each appearance on the team sheet in the cup matches.
This means players who featured in all the matches against Salifor in the first round, Hwange (second round), Lancashire Steel (quarterfinal), Lengthens (semi-final) and final against Bosso could reap $500 million instead of the blanket $288 million that had been set for everyone.
It was also party time for midfielder Justice Majabvi who wrote his own piece of history as the first captain since Memory Mucherahowa 10 years ago to win the championship.
Yesterday it was a dream come true for the defensive midfielder who only joined Dynamos last year after an acrimonious departure from Lancashire Steel.
Majabvi spent the early part of 2006 on the sidelines as Lancashire Steel tried to block his move to the Harare giants.
"I am very happy for myself and for the team and the supporters.
"Ten years was a long time to wait and now we have done it," he said.
Majabvi paid tribute to his troops for giving everything.
"Despite the problems we faced, we continued fighting.
"It was all hard work from the players and the coaches and now we have to prepare for next year," he said.
There was also Patson Ndabambi, the Shooting Stars caretaker who was magnanimous in defeat.
"We lost to a better team and they deserved to win.
"Basically Dynamos came looking for an early goal and we failed to absorb the pressure and conceded.
"We matched them men for men in the second half but the damage had already been done," said Ndabambi.
Teams:
Shooting Stars: P. Nhete, L. Kurauzvione, E. Matsika (P. Mbara 70th minute) G. Zhokinyu, B. Chiseko, C. Mwale, R. Sengu, M. Karimanzira, C. Makoto, R. Nyangoni (E. Amisi 45th minute), N. Togara
Dynamos: W. Manyatera, L. Maphuya, R. Mhlanga, S. Mutenheri, W. Mapfumo, D. Maringwa, M. Murape, J. Majabvi, E. Sadomba, S. Mutizirwa, A. Makwinja (D. Shoko 60th minute)- The Herald.
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