Rooney in one-man show for DeMbare

By Eddie Chikamhi

Dynamos……….(1)1
Triangle……………0

DYNAMOS reduced the price of the cheapest ticket to US$2 but only one player on the park, midfielder Ronald “Rooney” Chitiyo, produced a show worth a penny on a day when the deteriorating standards in the Castle Lager Premiership came under the spotlight.

Chitiyo played one of his best games for the Glamour Boys, after a slow start to life at the champions, and would have been rewarded with one of the best goals seen at the National Sports Stadium.

The diminutive midfielder connected a ball swung in from a corner, first time, deep into the game and put so much power that the ball flew from his boot at pace but, somehow, ‘keeper Ronald Mudimu reacted to produce a spectacular one-handed block, which sent the ball over the ball, in one of the best displays that will be seen in the Premiership this year.

DeMbare coach Callisto Pasuwa said there was nothing like a bad win after his side produced one of their worst performances this season despite edging struggling Triangle at the National Sports Stadium.

Winger Tichaona Mabvura scored the goal that made all the difference in the 29th minute but this game was so terrible, so lifeless, it didn’t deserve even one goal.

Just as well misfiring strikers Simba Sithole and Patrick Khumbula took turns to miss several clear-cut chances.

Mabvura’s goal came after the midfielder controlled the ball following good work by the impressive Chitiyo, who beat his markers to set him up at the edge of the box.

The DeMbare winger responded with a ferocious low shot that beat Mudimu, who should have done better, into the bottom corner of the nets.

DeMbare strikers have been awful this season and yesterday was another bad day for them in the office.

It could have been a different story had Triangle managed to take their game a gear up and decided to be more aggressive.

Unfortunately the visitors, who were battling to erase memories of the 0-4 thrashing by FC Platinum in their last assignment, also appeared they were not up for it on a day one could spend reading a newspaper and miss very little.

DeMbare were lucky their opponents never threatened their goal.

Sithole had more than three good chances to get his first goal of the season but the former Warriors man was so pathetic that it was surprising he lasted the whole match as supporters whistled to show their disapproval.

Dynamos’ poor display in front of goal started as early as the 11th minute when the striker was sent through the middle but his shot was blocked by the goalkeeper before Chitiyo blasted the rebound over the crossbar.

Chitiyo, who occasionally displayed his class with some clever touches, turned the provider a few minutes later when he delivered a low cross into the box but Sithole could not complete even the simplest task as he could only manage a slight touch of the ball into the hands of the goalkeeper.

The lowest moment of his afternoon came when substitute Washington Pakamisa decided to square the ball into his path  with five minutes remaining on the clock, but somehow it appeared he was not concentrating as the ball rolled across the face of goal with the keeper at his mercy.

Khumbula also had his moments of madness when he let his team down despite his good work rate.

It appeared his industry was misdirected at times and was subsequently replaced by Pakamisa. Pasuwa’s post-match interviews, just like his team’s performance on the field, are becoming too predictable these days. The DeMbare coach was careful not to openly criticise his players as he, for the umpteenth time, pointed out that they would need to go back to the drawing board to work on their finishing.

Pasuwa said he has faith in his strikers to turn the corner as he is looking at the bigger picture to retain the title for the fourth year running.

“I am happy for the three points but again it’s the chances that we are missing that are costing us at the end of the day.  Like always, we have to work on our strike-force because we need to improve in that area.

“It’s the chances that they were missing but the skill for them to be in those areas is there. But for Simba Sithole it’s how he positions himself when we get the ball.

“I think it’s only the chances that he is missing and we will have to work on that. To me (the team’s performance) is okay. Other teams may score many goals but we will see which team wins the championship at the end of the season.

“It’s the (long-term) objective that counts. I am happy for the boys we collected three points. The fact that we won makes it okay. We are collecting the points,” said Pasuwa.

Despite their unattractive way of play, DeMbare have now managed to string together three wins in succession.

They climbed to third place on the log standings and have managed to reduce the gap between them and Highlanders to one point after the Bulawayo giants were held to a 1-1 draw by FC Platinum at Barbourfields.

Triangle were already in the drop zone and yesterday they dropped one place further slumped to their sixth loss in 10 games.

Their coach, Biggie Zuze, who was forced to play with makeshift defence following the aggravation of centre-back Chastern Ngondonga’s injury, said he was worried by his side’s poor fortunes.

“We are very much concerned by the way we are losing matches. There are lot of matches that we lost which we shouldn’t have lost but this is the game and we just hope this will end soon as we now prepare for Highlanders at home,” said Zuze. The Herald

Teams

Dynamos: D. Chigova, B. Moyo, O. Mushure, P. Jaure, T. Ndlovu, T. Magorimbo, C. Sekete (W. Mukanga, 58th minute), R. Chitiyo, T. Mabvura (O. Machapa, 85th minute), S. Sithole, P. Khumbula (W. Pakamisa, 78th minute)

Triangle: R. Mudimu, P. Tonha, B. Chimwamuchere, C. Rukwanhi, J. Tigere, P. Manhanga (F. Kuswatuka, 78th minute), M. Muneri (M. Mukumba, 46th minute), H. Bakacheza (T. Chitora, 46th minute), R. Kawondera, T. Chipunza, N. Lameck