By Grace Chingoma
Dynamos……………………..(1) 2
Quelaton…………………………..0
DENVER Mukamba revealed yesterday that he has put the disappointment of his failed move to South Africa behind him and his focus now is to drive Dynamos to a successful defence of their Castle Lager Premiership soccer crown.
And if he can play as well as he did yesterday at Rufaro, his wish will come true and taking away the crown from the Glamour Boys won’t be as easy as some Highlanders fans believe.
Mukamba was irresistible yesterday, mixing the magical with the beautiful, and was the heart and soul of DeMbare’s win, which with better shooting accuracy, could have been a bumper harvest of goals.
He capped the show with an insurance goal in the 69th minute when he found his spot with his left foot to rifle home a long-range shot, turning the Quelaton goalkeeper Winston Chiwetu into a mere spectator.
At the stoppage time of first half, the Warriors midfielder had exchanged passes with Farai Mupasiri and teed the youthful player who held his nerves and drilled the ball home, giving the Harare giants a deserved lead going to the breather.
After the match, Mukamba said he is now focused on playing for Dynamos again after his move to Wits University collapsed dramatically and is not disappointed seeing his former teammates striker Takesure Chinyama and goalkeeper Washington Arubi now safely tucked at Orlando Pirates and Pretoria University respectively.
“My time will come and I will eventually go. Failing to secure a contract happens in football and I have put it behind. I am now focused on playing for Dynamos again and I want to help my team win the league title,” said Mukamba.
Mupasiri, who is slowly getting game time at Dynamos, yesterday got the nod to start in the team and repaid the coach as he struck his third goal of the season, having scored against Blue Rangers and FC Platinum.
However, he could have grabbed a hat-trick but the former rugby player went on to miss a couple of second half chances as he failed to be accurate in front of goal.
It was a tale of missed chances for DeMbare as forward Derrick Kabwe, who was handed a rare start ahead of Roderick Mutuma, failed to justify it as the Zambian fluffed numerous chances and was eventually pulled out for the lanky striker.
Kabwe first watched in agony as his eighth minute shot missed the target and 10 minutes after the breather he was at it again when he failed to head into the nets following a perfect cross from Murape Murape.
Quelaton, who were hammered 7-0 by Highlanders a fortnight ago, were stubborn and after the breather put a strong show but efforts from Timothy Sibanda and Eddy Nkhulongo forced fine saves from Dynamos goalkeeper George Chigova.
But the hosts’ second goal demoralised the visitors and the Glamour Boys could have added more goals as Cliff Sekete, who came in for Murape, made his presence felt.
With barely two minutes on the pitch, the former Gunners man sent a fine delivery to Mutuma who failed to read the pass and it went to waste. Five minutes later, Sekete was unlucky as his long-range shot had to be parried out of danger for a corner by the visitors’ goalminder Winston Chiwetu.
And on the stroke of full-time, Sekete found an unmarked Mukamba on the centre circle of the box but the midfielder was unlucky as his shot hit the woodwork.
Dynamos defender Guthrie Zhokinyi could have also put his name on the score-sheet following a fine delivery from Mukamba but the centre-back, finding possession in the box, was clueless with the ball.
The match also marked the return of veteran Dynamos midfielder Desmond Maringwa who replaced Mupasiri with 10 minutes to go and the former Warriors linkman received a big ovation from the fans. The former Dynamos skipper was playing his first match after he was registered during the second transfer window.
And Dynamos coach Callisto Pasuwa said the gritty midfielder’s experience and leadership should come in handy for his team.
“The players were lacking leadership if you look at last weekend’s match and we are sure his experience is needed in the team. I am happy to collect three points though we created many chances, which we should have converted.
“Since Monday, we have been trying to motivate the players and told them all the teams play well against us and there are no longer small teams in the league,” said Pasuwa. Quelaton coach Chipo Tsodzo said his charges had a decent game but failed to utilise their chances.
“My team overally played well. They (Dynamos) got their chances and utilised them, we also had our chances but we failed to utilise them. We are going back to the drawing board and restrategise. My boys gave Denver a lot of space outside the box and he punished us with that second goal,” said Tsodzo.
The veteran player, who was elevated to the hot seat last week following the departure of head coach Philani Ncube and is serving as a player-coach, did not rule out the possibility of playing again.
Teams
Dynamos: G. Chigova, A. Mbara, G. Magariro, G. Zhokinyi, T. Magorimbo, T. Mamvura, D. Mukamba, T. Mparati, M. Murape (C. Sekete 80th minute), D. Kabwe (R. Mutuma 62nd minute), F. Mupasiri(D. Maringwa 80th minute).
Quelaton: W. Chiwetu, W. Chiramba, S. Dube, Z. Sibanda, P. Zireni, G. Mleya, E. Nkhulungo (T. Mugumanya 58th minute), T. Magaisa (P. Tshuma 80th minute), T. Sibanda, S. Manwere (T. Moyo 87th minute), I. Kutsanzira.
