Tripple joy as DeMbare finally win

From Paul Mundandi, in ZVISHAVANE

Tripple B……………………..(0) 0

Dynamos…………………….(2) 2

ON the day that Dynamos learnt they had been fined US$10 000 by Caf for the missiles that rained on the pitch in their last Champions League tie, the Glamour Boys found something to cheer their spirits with their first victory in the Castle Lager Premiership campaign this year.

After five draws in their opening five league games, in which their forward-line had terribly failed to fire, the champions had turned into a subject of some jokes from their rivals who were beginning to sense blood as the Harare giants staggered from one poor result to another.

Their poor performance in the Champions League didn’t help matters either and they will now have to pay a huge price for their lacklustre flirtation with the best clubs on the continent after Caf handed them a US$10 000 fine on Friday for the wild behaviour of their fans at Rufaro in the tie against CA Bizertin.

DeMbare fans, from the Vietnam Stand, rained missiles on the pitch after a number of controversial calls from the far-side assistant referee from South Africa and the Harare giants will now have to pay an extra US$10 000, on top of the huge bill they incurred, for taking part in this year’s Champions League.

They won’t get a cent from Caf given they failed to make the group stages of the tournament.

After such depressing news, and the sick jokes that were flying around, including one that DeMbare had turned into the Zimbabwe football masters of the “Until We Score” case, after their controversial late equaliser against Highlanders last week, the victory over Tripple B will certainly cheer spirits.

But it doesn’t mean the jokes will stop.

After all this game was played on neutral territory after the PSL leadership ruled that the security of fans, players and officials could not be guaranteed at Dulibadzimu, Tripple B’s home ground, for such a big game and moved it to Mandava.

DeMbare have never lost at Mandava, whether they are playing FC Platinum or any team, and this stadium was the scene of their finest result, which changed the course of the 2011 championship race, as DeMbare edged the home side 1-0, in the penultimate game of the season, to take control of the marathon.

They never looked in trouble yesterday and even former CAPS United skipper, Washington Pakamisa, could afford to open his account for the Glamour Boys, after being promoted into the first XI in a bold move by coach Callisto Pasuwa given the criticism that the forward had faced during a difficult transition period.

It’s never easy to cross the Great Divide and, just in case you doubt that, ask Evans Gwekwerere?

Pakamisa drilled home the opener in the 19th minute before defender Partson Jaure, who scored for the second straight game, gave his team the insurance goal in the 45th minute when his free kick went past ‘keeper Tapuwa Mafunga.

DeMbare scored from their first real chance when Tawanda Muparati won possession and sent a cross to the right where Pakamisa picked his spot and powered a shot to the right that beat Mafunga all systems out.

Two minutes after the opener, Ugandan international midfielder Boban Zirintusa, could have added his name on the score sheet when he unleashed a shot from outside the box but Mafunga saved his effort.

The hosts could have found an equaliser in the 33rd minute when former Dynamos player Alick Marime, back in the stadium that was his home when he played for FC Platinum, got possession, broke loose and sent a defence-splitting pass to Lloyd Chiwaridzo but ‘keeper Artwell Mukandi was equal to the task.

Patrick Khumbula was then denied by the crossbar in the 43rd minute.

Captain Murape Murape, who played his heart out, won possession on the right and flighted a cross and with Tripple B defence static Kumbula rose to direct the ball towards goal only to see his effort crash against the crossbar with Mafunga a mere spectator.

Two minutes later Mafunga then handled a back pass from his defender, who was under challenge from Muparati. Zvishavane referee Rugare Kusosa awarded Dynamos an indirect free kick, Tripple B organised their wall on the goal-line with Mafunga two metres away from the wall.

Captain Murape had a touch on the ball before Jaure powered a grounder that went past the wall.

Done and dusted.

After the breather Khumbula could have made it three when he intercepted a back pass to the ‘keeper but sent his effort wide in the 49th minute.

Simon Maengeni could have reduced the arrears for the hosts in the 55th minute when he was sent through by Marime but with only Mukandi to beat, his composure failed him and he skied his effort.

The Zvishavane referee somehow failed to give Jaure his marching orders when the Zimbabwe international, in a moment of madness, struck former CAPS United skipper, Edmore Chafungamoyo, in the 59th minute in an off-the-ball incident.

The first assistant referee, Thomas Kusosa, who was closer to the incident, appeared to have missed it. Tripple B was later awarded a free kick outside the box but Chafungamoyo blasted his effort into the terraces in the 65th minute.

Muparati could have killed this game as a contest when he was fed in the box by Pakamisa but his effort sailed wide in the 71st minute from a very good position. Zirintusa then had another chance to score in the 78th minute when Ocean Mushure pushed forward on the left and sent in a cross.

The midfielder connected the ball first time but his effort missed the left upright.

Tripple B might have lost the match but they had something to smile about as they cashed their biggest cheque since coming into the league after DeMbare’s box-office status drew another bumper crowd to Mandava even when the cheapest ticket was going for US$5.

“It was a hard-earned three points having played five games (without a win). I was under pressure but I told my players to go and attack to get the much-needed goals,” said Pasuwa.

“We played very well and we scored two goals and got maximum points and this has boosted our confidence.

“We are the champions of Zimbabwe and going five games without a win was a problem as it landed us in trouble with our fans and everyone else who loves Dynamos from all the corners of the world.”

His counterpart, Friday Phiri, blasted the referee as he felt Tripple B were denied a penalty.

“It is very unfortunate that we lost after playing very well. We wanted a third straight win but we failed. Our player was appended in the box but there was no yellow card from the match official. He should have actually awarded us a penalty”, said the veteran coach. The Herald

Teams:

Tripple B: T Mafunga,G Fireyi,W Chingodza,T Mamvura, A Marime, O Chove,S Dube, T Mukondwa, L Chiwaridzo (A Makiwa 73rd minute), P Makanje (E Chafungamoyo 46th minute), S Maengeni.

Dynamos: A Mukandi, P Jaure, G Bello, T Magorimbo, O Mushure, S Alimenda, B Zirintusa (A Tavarwisa 83rd minute), M Murape, T Muparati, P Khumbula (T Mabvura 72nd minute),W Pakamisa.