Chronicle Editor
Eddie Chikamhi, Harare Bureau
Dynamos 0-2 Highlanders
BULAWAYO giants Highlanders showed no mercy as they added to the woes of ailing old foes Dynamos 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, 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.
Their coach Genesis Mangobe yesterday conveniently blamed the industrial action for the defeat despite his own shortcomings in team selection and strategy.
Dynamos looked suspicious 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 definitely 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 beat DeMbare 2-1 in the opening fixture of the campaign at Barbourfields.
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 great start yesterday with both teams taking the initiative with Mushore guilty of 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.
The goal appeared to give the Bosso players a spring in their step. DeMbare were forced to retreat and goalkeeper 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 airborne to punch out a shot by Namibian Sadney Uri-Khob that was meant for the top corner.
Probably the game could have had 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.
Teams
Dynamos: Prince Tafiremutsa, Emmanuel Jalai, Nomore Chinyerere, Tendaishe Magwaza, Donald Dzvinyai, Donald Mudadi (A. Botchway, 85th minute), Emmanuel Ziocha (K. Madera, 70th minute), Tanaka Shandirwa (A Musiyiwa, 61st minute), Temptation Chiunga, Emmanuel Paga (61st minute), Sadney Uri-Khob (A Mandinyenya, 85th minute).
Highlanders: Reward Muza, Marvellous Chigumira, Archford Faira, Andrew Mbeba, Peter Muduhwa, Godfrey Makaruse (G. Nyathi, 85th minute), Mckinnon Mushore, Brighton Ncube (N. Banda, 85th minute), Melikhaya Ncube, Lynoth Chikuhwa (H. Mhlanga, 85th minute) Marvin Sibanda.
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