Sithole the hero as DeMbare remain top

By Eddie Chikamhi

Triangle…………………(2) 2

Dynamos………………..(1) 2

SIMBA SITHOLE rose from the bench to open his account in his second spell at Dynamos as the champions showed remarkable never-say-die spirit to grab a priceless point at Gibbo yesterday that kept them in pole position in the race for the Castle Lager Premier League championship. 

Closest rivals Harare City and Highlanders also dropped points on the road yesterday with the Sunshine City Boys being held by lowly Black Rhinos at Rimuka, while Bosso were held by relegated Motor Action at Rufaro.

The three teams are at home in the next round of fixtures with DeMbare hosting Shabanie, Bosso hosting Triangle and Harare City having a date against Motor Action and, with all three favoured to win, there could be no changes heading into Week 29, which is likely to give us an indication of where this title goes.

Dynamos will travel to Chicken Inn, while Bosso and Harare City will clash at Rufaro.

The Glamour Boys were a furious lot yesterday, despite the point, pointing fingers at match officials who handled this match and also left pointing condemning fingers at the match officials after the hosts were awarded a controversial penalty for their equaliser.

The DeMbare family has been claiming there is a shadowy network working full throttle to ensure that they do not win a third straight championship and they have said some referees are clearly frustrating their mission.

Sithole provided the consolation for Callisto Pasuwa’s men who had trailed for large parts of the game after giving away Washington Pakamisa’s 20th minute lead.

Triangle, who finished with 10 men following the expulsion of defender Pardon Chinungwa in the 85th minute, had come from a goal down courtesy of a disputed 23rd minute penalty that was neatly converted by the home team’s man-of-the-moment Misheck Mburayi.

Their skipper Limited Chikafa doubled the advantage in the 38th minute after taking advantage of a defensive lapse and from then they dictated the pace of the game. However, Sithole made his impact when he jumped high inside the box and planted a firm header to the back of the nets.

Sithole was introduced as replacement for Ugandan Boban Zirintusa late in the game and quickly made his contribution when he responded positively to a high ball whipped in by Farai Mupasiri in the 83rd minute, just as the Triangle players were slowing down play and trying to frustrate the visitors.

The goal earned him the praise of his coach Pasuwa who has always maintained confidence in the striker following his return from a quiet stint at South Africa’s SuperSport.

“Simba is a good player and I thought he was just lacking confidence. This goal should help motivate him going forward,” said Pasuwa.

Pasuwa said they deserved to win yesterday’s match if it was not for their mistakes and the decisions of the referee as he queried the penalty that was given to their opponents.

“I have been talking about this kind of officiating for some time. It appears that every time we play away a penalty is given against us and I don’t know if it is us defending badly or it’s something else.

“It’s the name of the game, anyway. That aside, I thought we should have won the game but we defended badly when we allowed them to score their second goal. We made a mistake and we should minimise that especially when we are now at this stage of the championship,” said Pasuwa.

Questions will, no doubt, be asked as to why Pasuwa trusted Mbara, who has been ring-rusty, with a place in the starting XI, when many felt gangly defender Victor Kamhuka did enough at Barbourfields last week to justify his inclusion in Partson Jaure’s place.

Cliff Sekete, whose arrival in the second half at Barbourfields also helped his side tilt the tie in their favour, had also been expected to be rewarded with a first team place but had to contend with the bench as Pasuwa went for the experience that skipper Murape Murape provided.

DeMbare had earlier taken control of the game when Pakamisa received a good pass from strike partner Patrick Kumbula and found the bottom corner.

But their celebrations where cut short soon after, as referee Rugare Kusosa awarded Triangle a penalty barely a minute later, which torched protests with the Dynamos players questioning the referee’s decision.

However, Kusosa stood his ground as he maintained that that fullback Oscar Machapa had impeded Courage Denias inside the box. Mburayi stepped up and brought the home side back into the game with a well taken spot kick.

Kumbula could have restored the Glamour Boys’ lead about three minutes later but goalkeeper Chipula reacted swiftly to tip over a bouncing close range header.

Chikafa tilted the game in the hosts’ favour when he latched on to a diagonal pass from exciting midfielder Pasca Manhanga, one of the stars of the season in the domestic Premiership, which Dynamos defender Ocean Mushure failed to clear.

And, with the goalkeeper at his mercy, Chikafa unleashed a powerful low shot that gave George Chigova no chance. Chikafa, working in tandem with Manhanga and Denias, gave Dynamos defenders a torrid time was back again to haunt the goal area in the 40th minute but this time found Chigova alert.

Triangle ended the first half with a blitz on the DeMbare goal area as Chigova made two good saves while Mburayi’s shot was deflected over the bar for a corner kick in a crowded box.

Chikafa found himself in a promising position again soon after the restart but the former CAPS United forward could not make up his mind quick enough and was thwarted. Manhanga shot disappointingly wide from the follow on.

However, the home team, which enjoyed the warm support of the local community, fought for every ball and could have scored more had they made use of all their chances. Triangle coach Gishon Ntini was happy with the point although he felt they could have performed better.

“I think getting a draw with a team that is fighting to win the championship is excellent. It’s one of the games we knew was going to give us problems and we had really planned for it,” said Ntini. The Herald

Teams

Triangle: B. Chipula, P. Chinungwa, J. Zembe, C. Ngondonga, D. Sengu, W. Mukanga, P. Manhanga (L. Nhamo, 75th minute), C. Makoto, C. Denias (W. Mapfumo, 82nd minute), L. Chikafa, M. Mburayi

Dynamos: G Chigova, O. Machapa, O Mushure, G Bello, A. Mbara, S Alimenda, B. Zirintusa (S. Sithole, 75th minute), T Muparati (Mupasiri, 49th minute), M. Murape (Sekete, 48th minute), W Pakamisa, P. Khumbula