As Bosso celebrate, questions stalk Mutasa

at the first round in the Glamour Boys’ 30-year flirtation with football in the African Champions League.
Until this year, DeMbare had successfully cleared the first hurdle in Africa’s premier inter-club tournament 13 times in 13 attempts, scoring 48 goals and conceding just a dozen.
The Glamour Boys had won 18 first round games, drawn four and lost just two matches – 0-3 against AFC Leopards of Kenya in Nairobi in ‘83 and 1-2 against Costa do Sol in Maputo in 2008.
But, on the two occasions they lost away, Dynamos had built a substantial lead at home to find the cushion to help them advance to the next stage.
Twice, in 1984 and in 1986, the Glamour Boys were so ruthless that their opponents, HTMF Mahajanga of Madagascar, and Maji Maji of Tanzania, withdrew after being pummelled into submission in the first leg of their first round showdown.
But DeMbare’s impressive record in the Champions League, dating back to their first game against Linare of Lesotho in 1981, was blown away this season when Mutasa and his Class of 2011 crashed in the first round at the hands of MC Alger of Algeria.
On Sunday, at the National Sports Stadium, Mutasa and his Class of 2011 became the first group of Glamour Boys to lose to rivals Highlanders, in a competitive match, since July 2006.
On that afternoon Bosso, on their way to league championship glory, beat Dynamos 2-0 to complete back-to-back league victories over DeMbare, with the other encounter ending 1-0 in favour of the Bulawayo giants.
But it was to mark the end of Highlanders’ superiority over their rivals.
And, for the next four years, Bosso toiled as Dynamos dominated their meetings, with the Glamour Boys’ dominance highlighted by their 4-0 demolition of their shell-shocked opponents at Rufaro two years ago.
Even on the occasions when Highlanders were the better team, and they led for most of the match as was the case in the league game at Barbourfields last year, there was always a sense of inevitability about the eventual outcome of the contest.
And, as if on cue, Evans Gwekwerere and Guthrie Zhokinyi scored late goals in that match that was brought to a premature end, because of crowd trouble, before Dynamos got all three points on a 3-0 scoreline.
Even in the cup competitions, it always felt as if nothing would come right for Bosso and, in the BancABC Sup8r Cup semi-final at Barbourfields last year, skipper Gilbert Banda couldn’t find his range from the penalty spot and yet another ill-fated match was abandoned with Dynamos leading.
Earlier in the Independence Cup final between the two sides, Dynamos had coasted to a 2-0 victory.
On Monday, before a big crowd at the National Sports Stadium, the gods of football finally smiled Bosso’s way and the curse of the penalty, which had left Banda in a state of paralysis as he missed in the BancABC Sup8r Cup, came back to haunt Guthrie Zhokinyi. Twice, the Dynamos centreback missed from the penalty spot and, with skipper Desmond Maringwa also buckling under pressure, Bosso recovered from missing their first spot-kick, in the shootout, to win the contest.
The boundless joy on the faces of the delirious Highlanders’ players, as they celebrated their moment of glory, was about a story that went far beyond the excitement generated from winning the Independence Cup. This was all about the relief that comes with ending five years of torture under the same opponents, the pride that came with doing it on a grand stage – before such a big crowd – in the city that the other team calls home and, crucially, the confidence that can be drained from such a triumph.
Everything had pointed to a Dynamos win.
After all Bosso had exerted the extra energy, in winning their semi-final against Motor Action, where they needed to go through the psychological test that comes with having to deal with a penalty shootout contest. Dynamos beat Gunners 1-0 in regulation time in the other semi-final.
Then, Bosso had to travel to the capital
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for the final and played very well in the first half, were solid in the second, and had the nerve to win in the shootout.
“I feel quite honoured to be the first Highlanders coach to beat Dynamos after so many year,” said Bosso gaffer Mkhupali Masuku.
“It’s an early Christmas present for our fans and I dedicate this Independence Trophy to them as they have been waiting for so many years for this.”
When it comes to contests between Dynamos and Highlanders and DeMbare and CAPS United, the sub-plot battles between the fans, and for the fans, have always brought a new dimension to the clashes.
There is a section of CAPS United die-hards who will tell you that winning the championship is a bonus, as long as their team beats Dynamos in the league that season.
For Mutasa, every fall – no matter whether it comes via questionable officiating in the Champions League or via the penalty shootout lottery in the Independence Cup final – brings new questions to those analysing his work.
And fresh doubts among those who are losing faith in him.
Admittedly it’s too early to judge Mutasa but questions will inevitably be asked whether that superb performance against MC Alger at Rufaro was just a fluke show that might never come again this season.
The Glamour Boys scored four goals in that game.
But the same team has scored just three goals, in six games after that tie, losing 0-1 to Kiglon, 0-2 to Motor Action, 0-3 to MC Alger, beating FC Platinum 2-0, Gunners 1-0 and losing 3-4 on penalties to Bosso after a goalless 90 minutes.
While the DeMbare defence remains solid, there are questions about the midfield and serious questions about the frontline, especially that trusted gunman to finish the job off.
Even their fans appear confused.
On Wednesday they strongly protested, in the first sign of disapproval from Vietnam since Mutasa took over, when the coach pulled out Rodrick Mutuma for Patrick Khumbula.
On Monday, the fans turned against Mutuma as the lanky striker struggled with his game against Bosso.
“The team lacks a potent strikeforce,” wrote Ignatius Nyoni on a Facebook debate following the Glamour Boys’ defeat on Monday.
“Khumbula and Mutuma are not consistent in front of goal. They are not as feared as the likes of Gwekwerere, Maroto and/or Simba Sithole.”
The issue of a gunman appears to be one that will stalk this Dynamos Class of 2011 for a long time and make the difference between success and failure.
Maringwa has already shown why a team like DeMbare needs an experienced hand in midfield to give the bubbly youth brigade direction.
George Magariro has already shown why a team like DeMbare needs an old hand in defence to give the bubbly youth brigade like Thomas Magorimbo a filter to cushion them when they lose the plot.
Why the Dynamos coaches believe that scoring goals doesn’t need an old hand, with a track record of playing under the tough conditions that come with wearing this team’s colours, to help the youngsters, noone seems to know?
Instead we have seen them throwing the newboys into the frontline, to battle it alone usually as lone forwards, and – as pressure begins to build in the terraces – it’s easy for them to lose their way.
Mutasa still has a lot of goodwill, from the majority of the Dynamos fans, on his side but he knows it’s a relationship that can turn frosty quickly if it is not supported by results.
As Masuku donated the Independence Cup success story to his team’s fans, Mutasa was not there to address his supporters on key issues that were hurting their soul as the pain of defeat finally swept into their corner.
They wanted to know if Zhokinyi was still in the right frame of mind to take a penalty, in the shootout, after his miss in regulation time?
Somebody asked about the whereabouts of Clive Mwale, as the shortcomings of the forwards become apparent with each passing game, and he needed an answer.
And, all the time, the CAPS United fans were rubbing coarse salt into the gushing wounds.
“Kadyiwa ka team kasina basa. Thanks Bosso,” wrote Munya Chifamba on the Facebook debate.
Now, as all the Dynamos fans will tell you Lloyd, it’s those taunts that hurt them most and, after the heights of that win against MC Alger, everything has certainly gone downhill now.
The good thing is that it’s not yet late for Mutasa to change things.
But the Champions League returns this weekend and, for the first time in the 14 years – spread over three decades – where Dynamos have taken part in the tournament, the Glamour Boys will be missing from the second round.
Just like the Independence Trophy that is now at the Highlanders’ offices, the return of the Champions League will bring a touch of sadness, to the Dynamos fans, of how things have changed quickly in the past four weeks.