tawandamusarurwa
Langton Nyakwenda
Simba Bhora . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
Dynamos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
IN the end, this Castle Lager Premier Soccer League duel failed to live up to its billing.
Former Dynamos coach Tonderai Ndiraya was facing his former paymasters for the first time since he was sacked in November, before he was appointed at Simba Bhora.
Dynamos fans came in their numbers, hoping to watch an entertaining match, but it was not be.
This one was a dull encounter, which was full of stoppages, especially in the second half, when Simba Bhora became more physical.
Dynamos skipper Frank Makarati and Donald Mudadi left the pitch with bandaged heads early in the second half after a clash of heads. It was a huge blow for DeMbare, who had dominated the first half.
After that incident, play was intermittent, as both teams’ medics were busier than the players themselves.
Simba Bhora also employed some delaying tactics late in the second stanza as they seemed comfortable with a draw.
It worked well for them as they got their first point of the season.
The opening three fixtures were not kind to the newly promoted side, who lost 1-2 to champions FC Platinum in their opening match, before suffering a 0-1 defeat at the hands of league runners-up Chicken Inn.
“It was a very difficult fixture for us considering the status of our team. Yes, we have experienced players, but these are players who have just been brought together.
“And to get the top three teams from last season was not easy for us,” Ndiraya said.
The former DeMbare gaffer was relieved after getting his first point of the season.
He admitted that his side went into this match low on confidence after suffering two straight defeats.
“It was difficult to assert ourselves,” he said.
Simba Bhora did not allow Dynamos to play their passing game as they were physical and, in some instances, resorted to delaying tactics to disturb the Harare giants’ rhythm.
DeMbare, however, got a little livelier after the introduction of Denver Mukamba late in the second half in a triple substitution.
As has become tradition, Mukamba cashed in some dollars from fans after the match.
Sadly, DeMbare lost two key players — Makarati and Mudadi — to injury and their coach Herbert Maruwa was a worried man.
“We will have to check the extent of their injuries,” said Maruwa.
“But as the coach, I am happy with the team’s performance. They (Simba Bhora) were physical and I even told my boys to calm down.”
Maruwa acknowledged that the injury- inspired substitutions disturbed his team’s rhythm. It was a game of few chances, with Dynamos getting their first real chance in the 44th minute.
Arthur Musiyiwa’s grounder cannoned off the post before hitting the back of a diving Simba Chinani, who had to hook the ball from goal line.
Earlier on, Musiyiwa had shot wide from the edge of the box.
Nigerian striker Abubakar Moffat had Simba Bhora’s best chance in the first half.
He broke clear on the right after 34 minutes, charged into the box but took time to shoot before he was blocked by Mudadi.
Five minutes later, Simba Bhora appealed for a penalty, when Onifade went down under a challenge from Emmanuel Jalai.
Referee Lawrence Zimondi turned down the pleas.
The second half was only five minutes old when play was stopped for several minutes to allow Makarati and Mudadi to receive treatment after a clash of heads.
Makarati was replaced by Donald Dzvinyai while Shadreck Nyahwa came in for Mudadi.
Simba Bhora also lost Kudakwashe Mangami to injury after only 11 minutes, with Onifade coming on for him.
Dynamos also made a first-half substitute, with Issa Sadiki replacing the ineffective Nyasha Chintuli.
The former Ngezi Platinum Stars man was reportedly mugged last weekend and is yet to recover from the traumatising incident.
He was shut out by former CAPS United man Valentine Musarurwa, who was a part of Simba Bhora’s back-four that also had skipper Partson Jaure, Webster Tafa and Blessing Moyo.
Simba Bhora fielded six former Dynamos players — Chinani, Moyo, Jaure, Tichaona Chipunza, Albert Manenji and Ronald Chitiyo.
Manenji was deployed in midfield and stood toe to toe against his opponents.
TEAMS:
Simba Bhora: S. Chinani, B. Moyo, W. Tafa, P. Jaure, V. Musarurwa, T. Chipunza, Albert Manenji (I. Nyanhi 70’) V. Kawe, R. Chitiyo (P. Chigulupate 70’), H. Chikosa, K. Mangami (A. Onifade 11’, Balakasi 82’)
Dynamos: T. Mvula, E. Jalai, F. Makarati, K. Moyo, E. Moyo, D. Mudadi (S. Nyahwa 63rd) T. Shandirwa, A. Musiyiwa (E. Ilunga 63rd), N. Chintuli (I. Sadiki 45’), E. Paga, T. Matindife (D. Mukamba 63rd)
■ Twitter: @LangtonGuraz
Online Reporter