By Grace Chingoma
Blue Rangers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1)1
Dynamos . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . (1)1
The Glamour Boys learnt a harsh football lesson yesterday to never underestimate any team in the league when they conspired to disappoint their fans at a venue which, 24 hours earlier, had hosted an explosive Castle Lager Premiership game.
Last Friday’s Dynamos morning session exuded a relaxed atmosphere for the players and even coach Callisto Pasuwa was not under pressure as he delegated his goalkeepers’ coach Tichaona Diya to speak to the Press.
He also jokingly referred to Rangers’ coach, Partson Ndabambi, as a lightweight who just loves talking.
And, as veteran Murape Murape rose high in the 14th minute to head home off a Tawanda Muparati cross, it seemed the champions were on course for another perfect outing after a tennis scoreline of 6-0 in the reverse leg.
But struggling Rangers came back into the game four minutes before the breather when Lawrence Mduli sent home a perfect header off a cross from impressive Tigere Muparaganda, to level terms at Rufaro.
Three minutes earlier, Rangers had a goal ruled out for offside by referee Batsirai Muchenje, after Muparaganda had connected from inside the area.
However, minutes later they made sure there was everything to play for in the second half.
Dynamos could have regained their lead just before the first half ended, but defender Guthrie Zhokinyi’s powerful header was for a corner by goalkeeper Pedzisai Gumiremhete, who was having a game of a life time, as he stood between DeMbare and the victory they were chasing.
The former Shooting Stars and Harare City goalkeeper Gumiremhete was forced to summon his reflexes in the 20th minute to block Denver Mukamba’s cross and 15 minutes later it was Cliff Sekete who watched as the goalkeeper saved his effort.
Sekete will consider himself unlucky to be substituted, at a time when he was showing life and when he left the scene, everything died down. Blue Rangers, who had appeared overwhelmed by the occasion in the first half, regrouped and matched a subdued DeMbare who were failing to create chances for Rodrick Mutuma.
The introduction of Farai Mupasiri and Tichaona Mabvura, who shone when they started against Rangers in the reverse fixture, did not make any difference.
Rangers’ captain Nyasha Chazika and assistant coach Garikai Mukangairwa are former DeMbare players, who hail from the same street in Mbare, and both had vowed before the game to stop Dynamos.
And they were proved right yesterday. Gumiremhete, who joined the Rangers dressing room during the transfer window and was not yet at the club when they conceded six goals, made a stunning save, diving low to his left, just to push away a cracker of a free-kick taken by Ocean Mushure in the 65th minute.
Dynamos coach Pasuwa was a disappointed man and said complacency cost them the match.
“It is a very disappointing result. We didn’t create enough chances. We didn’t do enough today. Of course, the players got complacent and we have been telling them that even though we beat them 6-0 it is now a different side, but their attitude towards the game was just negative.
“We didn’t knock the ball around and the players were not going into scoring positions. We have to focus on the coming games and we will try to motivate the guys that it doesn’t matter we are behind Highlanders by so many points (eight),” said Pasuwa.
Before yesterday’s game, DeMbare had the psychological advantage that if they won their two outstanding matches, they would tie with Bosso with a home match against the leaders coming.
Now, all that has changed.
Blue Rangers coach Ndabambi, who took charge of the team after the 6-0 drubbing and following the departure of coach Misheck Chidzambwa, was a happy man. The diminutive coach, a Premiership and Division One hustler, said his team was now looking forward to winning more matches against “mediocre teams”.
“A draw against DeMbare is a good result. We will try to get points against other small teams. We are not a small team. And if we can manage to hold national champions what about mediocre teams?
“It was a balanced match and with a bit of luck we could have won it. We feel hard done by the offside call. It was a genuine goal. This result is a step in the right direction for us. They scored first, but we managed to come back and matched them man to man,” said Ndabambi.
Interestingly, it could be his last game in charge as his old paymasters, ZPC Kariba, have come calling and promised him a very big package. Ndabambi was supposed to leave for Kariba last week, but pleaded with the Division One team to have one final fling against Dynamos, where he had a chance to make a name for himself, and was granted his wish.
After yesterday’s performance, who could blame him?
Teams
Blue Rangers: P. Gumiremhete, K. Mazhambe, N. Chazika, J. Marufu, S. Hadebe, F. Mukaira, H. Chombe(M. Motsi 64th minute), T. Munetsi(N. Mukwezvaramba 59th minute), L. Mwashita(D. Temwanjira 86th minute), L. Mdluli, T. Muparaganda.
Dynamos: G. Chigova, O. Mushure, G. Magariro, G. Zhokinyi, T. Magorimbo, M. Makopa, D. Mukamba (T. Mabvura 74th minute), F. Muparati, M. Murape, C. Sekete (T. Mupasiri 57th minute), R. Mutuma (M. Vengesayi 64th minute).
