Arubi defends DeMbare

Chicken Inn at Rufaro at the weekend but despite the victory the performance was far from convincing, especially in the second half.
Most of the Dynamos players were terribly off form except for the brilliance of Denver Mukamba who, however, lasted 54 minutes before limping off injured.
Their chief striker Takesure Chinyama also had a good outing in the opening 45 minutes but fizzled out as he was not 100 percent fit.

Zambian striker Derrick Kabwe, who made the starting line-up at the expense of Rodreck Mutuma, showed a lot of promise.
But Chicken Inn came back strongly in the second half and DeMbare were lucky to survive the onslaught despite the Gamecocks playing with 10 men following the expulsion of their skipper Herbert Dick.
Arubi, who made some crucial saves and was at one stage given a standing ovation by Vietnam, conceded that Chicken Inn were difficult to handle and defended his team’s poor second half showing.

“I cannot say we relaxed but it’s hard sometimes to play against 10 men especially if it gets into your head that you have a numerical advantage.
“Of course we were under pressure and that happens in football. We always expect every game to be tough because all the teams that we play want to beat Dynamos.

“They tend to give it all their energies. Chicken Inn did that in the second half but in the end I am happy we managed to win and get the points,” said Arubi.
Mukamba and Murape were on target for Dynamos while Danny Phiri pulled one back for the visitors.
Coach Callisto Pasuwa said the DeMbare technical bench was forced to make unplanned changes in the second half due to injuries and with some players complaining of fatigue.

Mukamba limped off in the 54th minute because of a groin injury while defender Partson Jaure had to stay on for the last 25 minutes with a painful thigh after the side had used up all their substitutes.
DeMbare will play Motor Action tomorrow and the coaches yesterday decided to give the team a rest.

“We are now looking ahead to the game against Motor Action. It promises to be a tough one again and we need to keep focused. We are not putting ourselves under pressure.
“The good thing is we are taking each game as it comes,” said Arubi.

Chicken Inn skipper Herbert Dick conceded they are going through a bad spell after his team succumbed to their third straight defeat.
The situation is not looking healthy for Adam Ndlovu’s men who have dropped 11 points in their last four outings.
“This has been a bad month for us. Everyone can see that we are playing good football but the goals are evading us. We are going through a lean spell but I hope we will be out of it soon if we don’t lose focus.

Despite the defeat Chicken Inn were impressive in the second half where they played with 10 men after Dick was sent out for an early shower in the 36th minute.
With a bit of precision they could at least have forced a draw.
“The card cost us the match but overally we played well. These guys knew they were one-man down and they responded quite well by doubling their efforts in the second half.

“I am to blame for that but there was nothing else I could do.
“We were in one-on-one situation with the striker and he was aiming for goal. As a defender I had to do everything possible to stop him, which I did. Unfortunately it resulted in the card,” said Dick.

Rahman Gumbo’s FC Platinum have managed to string three wins in succession to move into third place, one point behind Dynamos.
The platinum miners dismissed Gunners 2-1 at Mandava on Saturday.
“It was a tough game and Gunners played well in the first half. But eventually we came good and had to fight back from behind after conceding in the first half.

“We even scored four goals but two were disallowed for unclear reasons. I am not complaining though because the referee’s decision is final,” said Gumbo.
FC Platinum will face with a resurgent CAPS United at the National Sports Stadium on Thursday.

Fixtures
Tomorrow
Quelaton v Blue Rangers (Luveve), Hwange v Monomotapa (Colliery), Motor Action v Dynamos (Rufaro), Shabanie Mine v Highlanders (Maglas)
Thursday
CAPS United v FC Platinum (National Sports Stadium), Harare City v Buffaloes (Rufaro), Chicken Inn v Black Mambas (Luveve), Gunners v Hardbody (Lafarge).