daniel chigunwe
Tadious Manyepo Sports Reporter
WITH their Castle Lager Premiership football match against Black Rhinos at the National Sports Stadium yesterday seemingly heading for a deadlock, Dynamos needed a saviour. But the usual man, who has always played the magical role for the Glamour Boys in recent matches, Bill Antonio was far off colour in the entire afternoon.
Even as coach Tonderai Ndiraya, desperate to get a winning goal, shuffled his cards and left Antonio on the pitch, the club supporters responded with whistles of disapproval.
They wanted the 20-year-old out for he was hardly near his best in the afternoon.
He switched flanks but either way he was under lock and key from Rhinos captain Farai Banda on the left and former Dynamos right-back Peace Makaha, who apparently had a point to prove.
Save for a single first half cross which found no takers in the box, Antonio basically struggled and proved why the DeMbare hierarchy have decided against sending him for a trial in Belgium this early.
But this boy has always been magical.
He was always going to have his moment and as Black Rhinos, who also implemented some delaying tactics, somehow appeared to lose concentration, Antonio emerged.
Picking a lose ball on the flank, Antonio, spurred by the noisy fans, worked his way past Makaha, accelerated and sold a dummy to Rhinos’ scorer Blessed Mbavarira.
He then appeared to lose his balance in the box but somehow managed to trick Gareth Madhake who sold himself to the youngster, leaving Antonio face-to-face with the goalkeeper Blessing Mwandimutsira.
All Antonio needed to do was to poke the all home to spark wild celebrations in the giant arena.
“I am happy not for myself but for the team. I know my teammates work so much hard in every aspect and we deliver like this it’s not supposed to be a one man game, it’s a collection of our efforts,” said Antonio.
“I have scored goals before but look at this one, I think it is the greatest of them all. That was why I removed my shirt. I was elated. “The moment I touched ball, worked my way past those three defenders, I was a bit off balance but I managed to raise my head up and saw the goalkeeper preparing to cover his far post. That is how I ended up poking the ball on his near post, I knew he couldn’t defy physics.
“The match was very tough for us, Black Rhinos defended in numbers, they were very good and well organised.
“But it is all about seizing moments, I got my moment and I had to capitalise.”
The Prince Edward prodigy was showered with cash by the fans who have fallen in love with their new hero.
“The fans, well, I can’t thank them enough. These are some of the most important stakeholders in the game. I know there are times when chips peel off and we are down in terms of play but they keep on singing for us. I am very thankful to them.
“I am still learning the very basic tenets of the game and the Dynamos system and they are playing a bigger role in my development.
“They were literally throwing money on me after the final whistle. They are a marvel. We should make sure that we work every minute to try and please them for they are the owners of the game.”
Online Reporter