Chigova goes 7 games without conceding

By Augustine Hwata

Dynamos….(1) 2

Black Rhinos…..0

HARARE – Gangly Dynamos goalkeeper George Chigova put aside the marital problems that had threatened to scuttle his participation in yesterday’s match and reached a personal milestone when he completed his seventh Premiership assignment without conceding a goal to help the Glamour Boys dispatch Black Rhinos at Rufaro. 

As Chigova kept a clean sheet at the back, Dynamos sealed their win through goals by strikers Clive Kawinga and Patrick Kumbula. The stocky Kawinga punished Black Rhinos for sloppy play in the 21st minute after defender Shadreck Jimu and his goalkeeper Samuel Mafukidze failed to communicate.

Jimu tried to shield Kawinga away from the ball but Mafukidze failed to close in and the Dynamos striker drilled the ball for his second goal in as many matches. Kawinga last week broke his goal duck for DeMbare when he scored in the 2-0 win over Motor Action at the same venue last Saturday.

Kumbula then fired a brilliant effort in the 52nd minute when he created a pocket of space to fire a low shot as Dynamos continued with their winnings ways.

But there was no doubting that Chigova would come under the spotlight with the former Zimbabwe youth international goalkeeper’s mental strength put to test given the ordeal he went through ahead of the match.

Chigova was served with summons last Friday over claims brought by a woman identified only as Samantha who claimed that the tall goalkeeper had reneged on looking after his daughter Nicole.

Samantha came to Rufaro in the company of two police officers to serve Chigova with the summons just as Dynamos were winding up their final training session before their clash with Rhinos.

Despite the troubles at his home, Chigova, to his credit kept his focus on the job at Rufaro and repelled everything that Rhinos threw at him to complete 608 minutes of Premiership football without conceding a goal in the seven games he has played for the Glamour Boys this season.

Infact Chigova who has been Dynamos’ first choice since filling Washtington Arubi’s big boots in mid-season last year, could have completed 630 minutes, which translates into full seven games but he picked up a red card during their Premiership tie against Triangle at Rufaro.

Chigova was expelled in the 68th minute on April 14 after he had retaliated to a challenge by Limited Chikafa and was replaced by Artwell Mukandi who has let in six goals for Dynamos this season.

Mukandi was between the posts when Chicken Inn, Shabanie Mine, FC Platinum, Black Mambas and Highlanders managed to breach the Dynamos defence.

FC Platinum who held Dynamos 2-2 at Rufaro are the only side to have scored more than once past the Harare giants so far this year while last season it was Hwange who managed that feat albeit, during the ill-tempered match which the coalminers lost 4-2.

Chigova showed that he was in no mood for compromise when he first thwarted a rather weak effort from Rhinos’ Lot Chiwunga in the fourth minute after the Black Rhinos striker had managed to make an attempt at goal.

While Chigova, with a little bit of luck, has managed to keep a clean sheet as the last man, his defence has also been water tight despite being hit by injuries, as they have been providing him with enough cover and protection.

In yesterday’s game Morris Kadzola operated at right back while Ocean Mushure was on the left and Partson Jaure partnered Augustine Mbara in central defence.

Utility player Thomas Magorimbo and Devon Chafa formed the first shield for Chigova in a double defensive midfield partnership while Kawinga, Kumbula and Washington Pakamisa played up-front.

Mbara blocked a powerful drive from Obey Gada in the 44th minute when the soldiers briefly showed some eagerness to level the scores just before the break.

In the second half, Dynamos continued dominating the match with Pakamisa scoring with a cheeky back heel in the 79th minute but the second assistant’s flag was up and referee Nomore Musundire ruled the effort out for off-side.

DeMbare continued searching for more goals and gained more confidence on the ball after the introduction of Allan Tavarwisa and Abel Gwatidzo although the soldiers also kept the Dynamos defence busy at times.

Marshal Mudewe, who completed the game with a heavily bandaged head after colliding with Kadzola, nearly reduced the areas when he got space inside the box but Jaure recovered to concede a corner while Chiwunga’s dipping shot in injury time settled on top of the net.

Dynamos coach Callisto Pasuwa reckoned that yet another win for the Glamour Boys would ensure they remain on course for their misison to defend their Premiership title. Pasuwa was, however not happy with the rate at which his charges missed chances during yesterday’s game.

“It’s the same old story in our matches where we have been scoring goals and then go to sit and allow the opponents to come at us. In my perspective, we should have buried this team by so many goals but we missed a lot of chances.

“Generally I am very happy with the performance but I think we should have scored more goals. If we get the chances, we should be able to bury them,” said Pasuwa. While Pasuwa was celebrating the three points, it was all gloomy for Arthur Tutani as his troops remain in danger of relegation.

Tutani felt that the “soft goal’’ conceded by his team during the first half changed the complexion of their game.

“I think we failed in our game plan which was to hold the ball and knock it around so that they will look for it and then we expected to pitch them on the breaks but then it failed because the goalkeeper donated a soft goal,” said Tutani.

Tutani seemingly feeling the heat in the kictchen, said it would be up to his bosses to decide his fate although the nomadic coach believes he has done a decent job so far since taking over from Nesbert “Yabo’’ Saruchera.

“I am happy with what I have achieved so far because when I took over, we had only won once and when I arrived in the office we have collected six points and that is a better achievement. My target is to bring Rhinos out of the murky waters of relegation but its becoming hard because we are not winning,” said Tutani. The Herald

Teams

Dynamos: G. Chigova, M. Kadzola, O. Mushure, P. Jaure, A, Mbara, T. Magorimbo, D. Chafa, T. Muparati ( A. Gwatidzo 64th min ), C. Kawinga (R. Madamombe 60th min) P. Kumbula, (A. Tavarwisa 70th min). W. Pakamisa,

Black Rhinos: S. Mafukidze, B. Chandisaita, M. Kurewa, S. Jimu, B. Mugoni, L. Chiwunga, O. Gada (B. Muzondiwa 77th min), M. Mudewe (T. Torovasei 58th min), J. Mukombwe, M. Mine (W. Masenda 56th min) W. Kapinda.