By Eddie Chikamhi
Dynamos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 2
Ngezi Platinum Stars . . . . . . . . . . . 0
Dynamos supporters were singing and dancing again yesterday after the Glamour Boys finally remembered how to win at Rufaro with their coach Lloyd Mutasa dedicating the victory to the eight fans who perished in a road accident last week.
On an emotional afternoon for the Glamour Boys family, on their return to their home ground where they had neither scored a goal nor won a match in their first four home games this season, the visitors did most of the playing while the hosts did all the scoring.
Inspirational skipper Augustine Mbara opened their account with a powerful header off a ball swung in from the corner kick by Godknows Murwira in the 37th minute.
Rodreck Mutuma then rose from the bench in the second half to seal the points with a simple finish.
He could have scored another, late on, but headed wide.
Mutasa, who inherited a side that had struggled to get results under Portuguese coach Paulo Jorge Silva, has managed to collect nine points from a possible 15 and his fate will be decided by the club’s leadership this week.
With two successive victories under the belt, following last weeks’ 2-1 triumph at Chapungu, Mutasa believes their win will help boost the morale ahead of the derby against Moses Chunga’s revitalised Harare City in their next assignment.
“I feel great to win today and so this should be a big morale-booster to the squad,” said Mutasa.
“It doesn’t get easy if you do not score at your home ground. Probably people didn’t expect much from us, having not scored here in four games, but getting two was okay for us.”
A minute of silence was observed in memory of the eight supporters who died in a road accident last week.
Goalkeeper Tonderayi Mateyaunga kept them in the game early on when he went air-borne to tip a dangerous ball over the bar.
DeMbare had appeals for a penalty turned down by the referee Ruzive Ruzive when Brett Amidu’s header came off Keith Murera’s arm midway through the first half.
Then the hosts struck when Mbara led from the front with a beauty of a header which few goalkeepers in the world would have saved.
Still Ngezi had the better exchanges but could not make their possession count.
At half-time they brought in last year’s ZIFA Northern Region Player of the Year Evans Katema and James Nguluve for their skipper Daniel Kamunenga and striker Donald Tegunde.
Masimba Mambare then had a good effort saved by goalkeeper Nelson Chadya 10 minutes into the second half before Ocean Mushure then made a spirited run down the left channel but his appeals for a penalty were waved away.
DeMbare’s second half substitute Mutuma got the insurance goal when he finished off a good move by Mambare inside the box from close range.
There was a mixture of delight and grief in the terraces with some fans waving placards of their departed colleagues.
“We owe it to the fans. This one is for them and if you look at the fact that we were supposed to play in an empty stadium and they were here strongly behind us,” said Mutasa.
“For that we want to thank the leadership for appealing against the decision.
“This win obviously is for them. We know the state that we are in, we know those who died and those injured did a lot in support of the team.”
However, the win was marred by a nasty incident late in the game when Mutuma and Stephen Alimenda — the best player on view — were involved in a shameful tussle for the ball, arguing who should take the freekick, after rookie forward King Nasama was brought down just outside the box.
“You look at Rodreck, he is a striker, he hasn’t been scoring of late and having scored today he surely wanted to bring his confidence back,” said Mutasa.
“I’m sure it’s something we can only talk about in the dressing room. But it’s not something serious.”
Outgoing Ngezi Platinum Stars coach Clifton Kadurira rued his side’s poor finishing. Former DeMbare player and coach Tonderai Ndiraya, who is set to take over the head coach’s job today, watched the match from the VVIP Tribune.
“I think we played well but it’s still the same old story. We are creating chances but then we are failing to score.
“I think that’s where we lost it because they got their own and they utilised those chances. It’s unfortunate, that’s part of the game,” said Kadurira.
Teams
Dynamos: T. Matiyeunga, G. Murwira, O. Mushure, A. Mbara, O. Mwerahari, S. Alimenda, B. Amidu (D. Mukandi, 46th min), C. Rusere (R. Mutuma, 53rd min), K. Nyakasaka (R. Kawondera, 63rd min), K. Nasama
Ngezi: N. Chadya, K. Murera, T. Chamboko, L. Chakoroma, K. Machona, J. Marufu (I. Sokosi, 69th min), E. Tapera, D. Kamunenga (E. Katema, 46th min), W. Pakamisa, T. Mabvura, D. Teguru (J. Nguluve, 46th min). The Herald
