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Eddie Chikamhi, Senior Sports Reporter
Dynamos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
Highlanders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(1) 2
BULAWAYO giants Highlanders showed no mercy as they added to the woes of ailing old foes Dynamos, completing a double with a dominant display in a Castle Lager Premiership match at Rufaro yesterday.
Bosso walked away deserved winners courtesy of goals from McKinnon Mushore and Godfrey Makaruse either side of the half-time break, much to the disappointment of the home supporters, who started trickling out of the stadium before the final whistle.
Dynamos plunged into the big battle ill-equipped after players boycotted training last week.
And, their coach Genesis Mangombe yesterday conveniently blamed the industrial action for the defeat, despite his shortcomings in team selection and strategy.
Dynamos were shaky in defence, even though they had players like Frank Makarati, Kelvin Moyo and Shadreck Nyahwa on the bench. They were also unconvincing in midfield, where they lost most of the duels to their more determined opponents.
On a good day, Highlanders could have won this game by a wider margin. But it was still a sweet accomplishment for their coach Kelvin Kaindu, who led Bosso to a double over their bitter opponents for the first time in six years.
“I think there is nothing better in the league than for you to do a double against Dynamos. We managed to score two goals and we kept a clean sheet,” said Kaindu.
“I think we played well and we could have come out with a bigger scoreline, especially looking at the number of scoring chances that we had.
“We knew Dynamos would come at us in the first 15 minutes and that’s what they did. But we had to maintain our composure and after that, we started playing our normal game.”
Bosso managed to better their first-leg performance when they beat DeMbare 2-1 in the opening fixture of the campaign at Barbourfields before running out of steam.
Kaindu believes yesterday’s victory will revitalise his team ahead of more intense battles in the second round of the marathon.
“I think it gives us a lot of motivation. We had played a lot of draws during the season. This is how we started in the first round; we managed to pick up maximum points.
“We have done it again in the second round and we remain positive. It’s a big win for the team but we have to remain focused,” said Kaindu.
The match got off to a frenetic pace yesterday with both teams taking the initiative. Mushore was guilty of failing or missing a good opportunity to give his team the lead after Tanaka Shandirwa had lost possession in a dangerous position, with nine minutes played.
Bosso eventually took the lead in the 27th minute when Mushore, who was heavily involved in both of his team’s goals, riffled home a rising shot from an acute angle to beat goalkeeper Prince Tafiremutsa at the near post, with the ball nestling in well with the assistance of the upright.
The goal appeared to give Bosso players a spring in their step. DeMbare were forced to retreat and Tafiremutsa was forced to punch Godfrey Makaruse’s shot at the near post midway through the half.
Bosso could have doubled their lead moments after the restart but Brighton Ncube skied his shot from close range.
DeMbare, in the meantime, also had some moments and Bosso keeper Reward Muza went air-borne to punch out a shot by Namibian Sadney Uri-Khob, that was meant for the top corner.
Probably the game could have had a significant turnaround in the 57th minute when the Namibian released strike partner Emmanuel Paga, who somehow blazed his effort over the bar with the goalkeeper at his mercy.
Nonetheless, Highlanders were seeing most of the ball and getting most of the chances. Makaruse killed the game as a contest in the 75th minute when he slotted the ball in at the back post unmarked.
The Highlanders midfielder was at the right position when the ball came off the foot of the upright from an effort by Mushore, who slid in the ball from a tight angle.
The teams remained unchanged on the log standings, with Highlanders moving to 29 points in fifth position. Dynamos remained sixth with 24 points, 14 behind log leaders FC Platinum at the resumption of the second half of the campaign.
The result also piled pressure on Mangombe as well as the club’s management, who have been under the spotlight after players boycotted four days of training last week.
“It’s so painful, and as a coach, you don’t want to lose six points to the same team in one season. But it’s a game of football. At times we have these results,” said Mangombe.
“But there are some things that are beyond my control. If you saw the intensity of the opponents, it means they were well-prepared for us.
“We failed to train and they capitalised on fast goal attacks. We tried to contain them but at the same time, we lost some energy in the process.
“Maybe it was because of the lack of training. Our fitness level today was not spot on,” said Mangombe.
Teams:
Dynamos: Prince Tafiremutsa, Emmanuel Jalai, Nomore Chinyerere, Tendaishe Magwaza, Donald Dzvinyai, Donald Mudadi (A. Botchway, 85th min), Emmanuel Ziocha (K. Madera, 70th min), Tanaka Shandirwa (A. Musiyiwa, 61st mi-nute), Temptation Chiunga, Emmanuel Paga (61st min), Sadney Uri-Khob (A. Mandinyenya, 85th min)
Highlanders: Reward Muza, Marvellous Chigumira, Archford Faira, Andrew Mbeba, Peter Muduhwa, Godfrey Makaruse (G. Nyathi, 85th min), Mckinnon Mushore, Brighton Ncube (N. Banda, 85th min), Melikhaya Ncube, Lynoth Chikuhwa (H. Mhlanga, 85th min) Marvin Sibanda
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