Relief for Mandigora as DeMbare win
By Eddie Chikamhi
Dynamos . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1
FC Platinum . . . . . . . . . . . . .0
UNDER pressure Dynamos coach David Mandigora finally managed to put a smile on his face and had the opportunity to exchange a few hugs with his players and technical crew after the final whistle at Rufaro yesterday as the champions laboured to their first win in four games yesterday.
Gangly Oscar Machapa scrambled home an injury time winner that took a heavy load of pressure off Mandigora’s shoulders as the veteran coach avoided the frustration of going for four games with neither win nor a goal.
Yet that had seemed to be the script as Dynamos toiled all afternoon at Rufaro without a goal in normal time.
Mandigora had been on the spotlight following a dip in his side’s form but they had Machapa to thank after the roving midfielder turned the ball into the back of the net from a corner that was taken by Ocean Mushure during stoppage time.
The past week has been a difficult one for the Harare giants, who lost their previous two games to Chicken Inn and newboys Whawha, and it appeared discontent has been simmering among the supporters’ ranks.
The Glamour Boys had completed 360 minutes of play without scoring a goal yesterday when Machapa found the winner in a crowded box with the last kick of the day after referee Josiah Masimira had added five minutes of his optional time.
“It’s quite a relief. We hadn’t scored for the past three or four games so it’s good to score and get a win. At least we got three points today,” said Mandigora.
“I am happy for our supporters and also for the people who have kept faith in us. I hope we will continue to improve and maybe get more points in future games. They should carry on supporting us and we will try to do better, we will try to improve our performance,” said Mandigora.
DeMbare who had slipped to fifth place on Saturday returned to third position with 17 points, three behind log leaders Triangle and Chicken Inn.
It looked like a draw would have been a fair result yesterday.
FC Platinum, who had been on a resurgence after an indifferent start to the season, dominated most of the play with their passing game but it was DeMbare who had better scoring opportunities.
Mandigora knew a loss yesterday could have had a disastrous ramifications as a section of supporters reminded him and his technical team of their displeasure through occasional whistling and gestures of disapproval.
The veteran coach had to play his cards well and yesterday he made a number of changes to his starting team with striker Patrick Khumbula, who recently recovered from injury, making the starting line up ahead of Simba Nhivi and Kelvin Bulaji.
Off-form midfielder Walter Mukanga, Stephen Alimenda and versatile Godknows Murwira, who came on as a second half substitute for injured Obey Mwerahari, were sacrificed as DeMbare dumped their ultra-defensive approach and went for more attacking options in Carlos Rusere, Masimba Mambare and Ronald Chitiyo.
However, Dynamos suffered a double injury blow as they lost Mwerahari and Nhivi who had been introduced as second half substitute.
FC Platinum enjoyed most of the ball, especially in the first half and Obrey Chirwa forced a fine save from Tatenda Mukuruva when he cracked at goal from just outside the box after 22 minutes.
Chances were few and far between at both ends. However, the best attempt at goal was made by Milton Makopa, enjoying yet a rare start for Dynamos, when he opened fire from a distance with a rising shot that almost troubled goalkeeper Francis Tizayi.
Young Warriors international Rusere was guilty of wasting a good chance when he misdirected a free header from a cross by Bulaji with two minutes of regulation time remaining.
FC Platinum also got their chances and midfielder Wisdom Mutasa could have done better when he controlled the ball inside the box unmarked but he zoomed his shot wide of target.
Their coach Norman Mapeza said injury to one of his experienced players Donald Ngoma, who limped out in the 66th minute, affected his game plan.
The platinum miners made a slow start to the season but they had revived their campaign with back to back wins in their previous assignments. Mapeza said a draw could have been fair but his charges should take the stick for their sloppiness at the death.
“It’s part of the game. I think sometimes it’s just lack of concentration. Some of these boys are still young and it’s not easy. When playing a good team like Dynamos you need maximum concentration.
“We always tell them every quarter of the game is important, the first and the last 15 minutes of the game are crucial. Anyway, we lost but I think my boys played well. I think after we lost Donald to injury we lost a little bit of shape,” said Mapeza.
Teams:
Dynamos: T. Mukuruva, O. Mwerahari (G. Murwira, 79th minute), O. Mushure, A. Mbara, S. Linyama, M. Makopa, M. Mambare, R. Chitiyo, C. Rusere, O. Machapa, P. Khumbula (S. Nhivi, 57th minute, K. Bulaji, 83rd minute)
FC Platinum: F. Tizayi, R. Muduviwa, G. Bello, K. Moyo, E. Moyo, W. Mutasa (N. Papias, 77th minute), A. Gahadzikwa (W. Kamudyariwa, 83rd minute), W. Mhango, W. Musona, D. Ngoma (T. Kamusoko, 66th minute), O. Chirwa The Herald
