By Augustine Hwata
Dynamos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
Tsholotsho . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
A SECTION of Dynamos fans yesterday bayed for the blood of David Mandigora after the Glamour Boys shared the spoils with impressive newboys Tsholotsho FC in a Castle Lager Premiership match at Rufaro.
The fans tried to block Mandigora from leaving the stadium, but later gave up after police intervened to disperse the angry supporters who gathered outside the main entrance, demanding the immediate dismissal of the coach.
Club president Kenny Mubaiwa was also held up by some of the fans as he made his way to his car, demanding that he sacks Mandigora.
With a little bit of luck, The Naughty Boys could have returned to Tsholotsho with three points in the bag as they created meaningful scoring chances, especially in the last quarter of the match.
Dynamos started the match as the more offensive side, but they failed to breach the visitors’ defence with Eric Opuku missing with a close header in the 26th minute, while Ocean Mushure directed his free-kick just wide in the 32nd minute.
In the second half, Dynamos goalkeeper Tatenda Mukuruva made some fine saves after fine attempts from Nixon Gama and Mclive Phiri.
His best save came in the 72nd minute when he thwarted Butholezwe Ncube by tipping the ball for a corner as Tsholotsho confused the DeMbare defence and then launched a missile that was set for the top corner.
The draw, however, kept Dynamos in third place on the table and they failed to catch up with leaders Chicken Inn who fell to Hwange on Saturday.
Maybe Mandigora will look at Patrick Khumbula’s disallowed goal in the 82nd minute as another case when the football gods turned against them.
But the truth is that his strikers have been failing to convert chances and no wonder why they have signed veteran Takesure Chinyama.
Mandigora has not helped his case with questionable substitutions and his decision to take out Oscar Machapa, instead of Kelvin Bulaji, angered the crowd.
Cliff Sekete, his first replacement, decided to hide from the action and did not add value to the game.
In the 78th minute, Khumbula nearly turned into a hero when he finished off a delicate assist from Bulaji, but referee Thomas Maasa, who made some strange decisions, ruled the effort out for offside.
It was a close call as Khumbula burst forward to make a finish while it was Cliff Sekete who had been standing in an offside position when the ball was released from Bulaji’s feet and the far-side assistant got it all wrong.
Now Mandigora will remain in the pressure cooker as the next game is at home when they play Triangle on Sunday and anything short of three points could further strain his relationship with the fans.
That is if he stays long enough to be in charge in that game.
“We are not playing well at home and the fans have every reason to be angry. We have to work harder and try to improve on our shortcomings,” said Mandigora.
“Since I got into this job, I knew that pressure was always there and we cannot always talk about it over and over. It’s something that is there.”
With the arrival of Chinyama confirmed by the executive, Mandigora said he would rather deal with his misfiring forwards for now than focus on the former Orlando Pirates striker.
The absence of Ronald Chitiyo, who has been the most consistent player at Dynamos, was clearly felt while they also missed Simba Nhivi through injury.
When the chips are down, Chitiyo has been one man able to conjure some magic for the team.
Chitiyo was part of the Warriors side at the COSAFA Cup in South Africa while Carlos Ruse featured for the Young Warriors on Sunday.
While Mandigora was threatened by fans, his opposite number Lizwe Sweswe was hailed by the handful of his team’s fans as they took a big ONE point against the champions.
Sweswe even bragged that he was disappointed by the point gained as he wanted all three points.
“The result was good for us although I had wanted three points here.
“Dynamos are a good side, they have a number of experienced players and their 12th player — the supporters — contributed a lot.
“Before the match I had talked to my boys not to mind Dynamos being the champions from the previous season.
“We are playing at the same level now, we are playing the same ball and there was nothing to be afraid of,” he said.
Teams
Dynamos: T. Mukuruva, A. Mbara, B. Moyo, M. Makopa, S. Linyama, M. Mambare, D. Chungwa (Mupasiri 60thmin ), O.Machapa (Khumbula 78th min) E. Opuku (C. Sekete 50th min) K. Bulaji, O. Mushure
Tsholotsho: M. Chang, M. Phiri, N. Gama (L. Chikuhwa 63rd min) N. Moyo, K. Machazane, S. Gorogodyo, W. Stima, T. Ncube, D. Dzvinyai, B. Ncube. O, Ncube. The Herald
