Dubious Dynamos crash to Hwange at Rufaro

By Augustine Hwata

Dynamos……………. 0 Hwange………. (0) 1

DYNAMOS were left searching their soul after a week of controversy, built around a fall out between the players and their executive, ended with a morale-shattering defeat at Rufaro that is certain to complicate their battle to catch up with leaders Motor Action.

The Glamour Boys had vowed not to fulfil this fixture, as long as their executive was in charge, and the players went as far as writing a petition to the club’s board of directors.

The board sided with the executive, led by Harare business executive Farai Munetsi, and then threatened the players with termination of their contracts should they fail to fulfil yesterday’s match.

As it turned out, the players backed down and fulfilled the match but — after a defeat in a game in which the Glamour Boys also missed a late penalty — questions will certainly be asked about their commitment to this tie.

Their body language might have shown that they were ready for the task, and to their credit, they fought gallantly backed by a good crowd but the big question is that did they put everything into the game?

Guthrie Zhokinyi complicated matters when he dragged his effort from the penalty spot wide of the goalkeeper’s right post and — for those who always believe in conspiracy theories — maybe this showed the players were not in it for victory.

But Hwange, and Motor Action, will not give a damn about all the nonsense in the Glamour Boys camp and will celebrate the events of a sunny afternoon in the capital when the coalminers handed DeMbare only their second league defeat of the season.

Nine minutes from time, referee Masimba Chihowa adjudged that Wonder Sithole, who had a poor game yesterday, was tripped just inside the box and awarded Dynamos a penalty.

While there was certainly contact, from behind, the decision appeared harsh and Hwange players protested with their Zambian coach Tennant Chilumba foolishly ordering his troops off the field.

But the day was saved, thanks to the intervention of Hwange Colliery Company Managing Director Fred Moyo, a true football man, who rose from his seat in the VIP Enclosure and ordered his players back to the field. Team spokesman Burzil Dube also played a big part during the chaos as he persuaded his players back on the field.

When order was restored, Zhokinyi, who had not missed a penalty all season, fired wide from the spot to break the hearts of his fans.

The football gods were not happy with Dynamos wasting such a glorious chance and two minutes later Hwange came on an attack with lively winger Fortune Ncube beating left-back Khumbulani Banda with ease and then slicing a low shot that goalkeeper Washington Arubi parried back into play.

But Rodwell Chinyengetere was at hand to tap the ball home and send the small band of Hwange supporters and neutrals, including a host of CAPS United fans on the northern stand, into a frenzy while the Dynamos crowd was stunned in the 84th minute.

Two minutes later, Hwange could have increased the lead when Banda hacked down Gilbert Zulu just on the line and referee awarded a free-kick outside the box. The Hwange players wanted a penalty.

From the fine set-piece Milos Phiri sold a dummy and Ncube then crossed for Zulu into the box only for Zhokinyu to boot away from danger. The game started off at a cracking pace with the Dynamos players determined to get an early goal and David Kutyauripo was in inspired form down the wing on the right.

Benjamin Marere and Evans Gwekwerere played their parts in keeping the Hwange defence busy while Murape Murape was also good value for his place in the starting XI.

But Dynamos could not get the breakthrough and Hwange, who employed delaying tactics from the first half, knew that as long as the scoreline remained goalless, they had a chance.

Gwekwerere called the best out of goalkeeper Timothy Sibanda when he pulled the trigger on the run after being set up by Marere. It was a fine attempt and an equally fine save in the 32nd minute while Marere, after a beautiful run and some twists and turns, volleyed just over the bar.

In the second half Hwange appeared to match Dynamos blow-for-blow and began to gain more space in the hosts’ half. Elvis Chiweshe’s harshest critics have always claimed that he appears to lose the plot in the second half and his substitutes have rarely proved inspirational.

Those critics will look at yesterday’s game and feel they might be right given that Dynamos lost their shape once Chuchu pulled out Gwekwerere and Murape with Ashley Ramabanapasi looking lost in an isolated role on the right wing. The other substitute Francis Mandiwanzira was so poor that he should have been pulled out again.

In contrast, Hwange made the right moves and technical changes after the interval.

Ncube terrorised Banda on the right and Dynamos felt let down by Chihowa when he waved play-on in the 79th minute with Chuma seemingly handling inside his box. It was not a deliberate handball and Chihowa ignored the appeals from Dynamos fans.

After the game, Dynamos assistant coach Simon Chuma said luck was not on their side.

“It was not our day. We created the chances and did everything possible but considering that we had not been training, I think we played well.

“It’s painful to lose,” said Chuma.

Dynamos are set to play Shabanie Mine at Rufaro on Wednesday. Hwange coach Chilumba said he was hopeful even before the match that they would get a goal.

“I called the players over to the bench so that I would give them instructions.

“They never moved off the field of play but I just wanted to tell them not to lose focus before that penalty had been taken.

“I was hopeful that we were also going to score if Dynamos had scored from that spot kick. But they missed and we scored,” said Chilumba.

The Zambian coach said he could be bringing the league championship to Hwange for the first time if the team keeps playing to the level they demonstrated yesterday. But while Hwange won the game, it was the Dynamos executive who paid the price for not attending to the players’ grievances on time.

The players were on strike for the past two weeks and had on Friday filed a petition for their executive to resign only for them to dismiss the player’s demands. In contrast Hwange’s management showed how it’s done my giving decent incentives to their players to fire them up for this battle against DeMbare.

There was another big talking point at the end when Chihowa added only three minutes of added time when the match had been stopped for about four minutes during the commotion ignited by his decision to award DeMbare a penalty.

Teams

Dynamos: W. Arubi, D. Kutyauripo, K. Banda, G. Magariro, G. Zhokinyu, M. Makopa, I. Pitamuja, M. Murape (A. Rambanapasi 61st min), B. Marere, E. Gwekwerere (F. Mandiwanzira 61st minute), W. Sithole (A. Mbara 84th min)

Hwange: T. Sibanda, A. Chuma, D. Boriwondo, G. Ndlovu, R. Chinyengetere, F. Ncube, M. Phiri, W. Muhanga, M. Chipunza, S. Njelele (N. Tshuma 64th min) G. Zulu

Results Elsewhere

Highlanders 1…………….. Caps United………………………….. 0

Motor Action……………… 1 Shabanie Mine……………………. 1

Gunners…………………….. 2 Lengthens………………………….. 2