Battered and cheated

biased refereeing he has seen in his football career, as the Glamour Boys explored the possibility of boycotting future Caf inter-club matches after a Champions League tie, made in hell, here on Sunday night.
Archieford Gutu and Denver Muka-mba, targeted by the Algerians as the main threat, were attacked by their opponents during this contest while Rodreck Mutuma was left with a swollen eye after being punched several times in incidents ignored by the Egyptian referee.
The Glamour Boys crashed out of the Champions League in the first rou-nd after MC Alger somehow turned around a 1-4 first leg deficit to win 3-0 here – with most of that script wri-tten by an Egyptian referee who shamelessly played for the home team – and qualify on the away goals rule.
DeMbare will, this week, review the wisdom of their continued flirtation with the Champions League, after a heartbreaking loss here on Sunday night, which was influenced largely by the shameless hand of a biased referee.
The club’s executive, in a teleconference, weighed their options and will meet in Harare this week for a resolution that will determine whether DeMbare will continue playing in Caf’s inter-club competitions from next season. Dynamos vice-chairman Kenny Mubaiwa, the most senior club official here, confirmed that his executive would meet this week to consider their continued flirtation with the Champions League.
“We will decide on whether to continue pouring thousands of dollars into a losing cause,” he said.
“Events during our match against MC Alger clearly show that the powers that be want teams from North Africa to succeed at all costs while teams from Southern Africa, like Dynamos, are included to authenticate a flawed competition.
“Last year we came to Algeria to play Entente Setif and were given another raw deal hence it’s only natural that some, among us, are against the idea of wasting money in the African Safari. The aim is always to reach the mini-league stage but past experiences have seen us making losses after the bulk of our prize money found its way into the pockets of service providers such as broadcast companies.”
While his bosses are still pondering their next move, coach Mutasa appears to have his decision cast.
“I have been in this competition before but have never seen anything remotely close to what transpired on Sunday. Such acts of robbery make you question whether it’s worth being part of the Caf Champions League.
“Personally, I think it’s a waste of time as some unfortunate teams, without the financial muscle, get trampled on,” said Mutasa.
The DeMbare coach was so angry with how his boys were robbed of their moment in glory that he couldn’t have his breakfast yesterday.
Chances are that the Glamour Boys could have fielded 22 players and still lost Sunday’s match as Egyptian referee Fahim Omar was on a mission.
The statistics were telling after nearly 100 minutes of a stage-managed affair that Caf president Issa Hayatou and his cronies would like to refer to as a Champions League first round, second leg tie.
Dynamos finished the game with nine men after Archieford Gutu and Guthrie Zhokinyi were sent off.
Seven yellow cards were flashed in the faces of Zimbabwean players – Washington Arubi, Patrick Khumbula, Devon Chafa, George Magariro, Denver Mukamba, Thomas Magorimbo and Rodrick Mutuma – while the Algerians got away with anything they threw at their opponents.
Mutasa’s men only had one free kick in their favour all night as compared to MC Alger’s 36.
Yeah, it was that bad!
Tactically DeMbare were the better team with Mutasa’s men, who believe in passing their way to victory, showing they could also roll up their sleeves and do the hard work when the need arises. For much of the game Gutu and Mukamba sacrificed their artistry to help with the defensive duties. And the plan worked until the 43rd minute, when Bedbouda opened the scoring from a suspiciously off side position.
The second half saw Mutasa ordering his defenders to avoid making contact in the box as the MC Alger strikers were desperate to give Omar reason to point to the spot.
It was a dangerous but necessary approach that worked hugely because of Arubi’s strong show on the night.
“Washy was at it again . . . he was just fantastic,” said Mutasa of his goalkeeper.
With the two goals they needed failing to come Omar and MC Alger sunk to shocking depths after 77 minutes. Douadi rammed into Gutu as he headed a cross from the left side and, out the Blue, Omar awarded a penalty and Mokdad converted to leave MC Alger needing a goal to go through.
But with Dynamos looking good with Mutasa having shored up his defensive ranks by pulling out skipper Desmond Maringwa for the combative Milton Makopa, Mukamba for Khumbula and Mutuma for Gift Bello, the hosts had little luck going forward.
The home side’s coach Zekri, the self proclaimed Mourinho of Algerian football, was clearly getting desperate. The chubby gaffer employed three strikers, drank gallons of water as the clock hit the 90th minute mark with his team still needing a goal to go through.
DeMbare officials claim the fourth official told them that only a minute of added time would be played but Omar indicated that there were seven extra minutes still to play.
And, as fate would have it, Bedbouda hammered the final nail into the Dynamos coffin as DeMbare, backed by Zimbabwean students resident here, were reduced to tears as the Algerians into celebrating the successful execution of a smash-and-grab raid by their Egyptian mercenary.
Meanwhile, Dynamos are expected home around 1pm tomorrow after a taxing journey that will see them going through Paris and Addis Ababa.