Bosso, DeMbare on top

 

Since the start of the Castle Larger Premiership race this season, light­weights Chicken Inn and Shabanie Mine have been setting the pace but, as fate would have it, the two teams were defeated for the first time on the same day.
Previously unbeaten Chicken Inn lost 1-0 to Hardbody at Ascot on Sun­day, though in controversial circum­stances with questions, while Shabanie were tasting the same bitter medicine against another new side Buffaloes at Sakubva, losing 2-1.

The defeats to Chicken Inn and Shabanie saw giants Dynamos and Highlanders moving in as serious title contenders early in the season.
The two giants will face each other in an outstanding game from round five and whoever wins the match gets a psychological boost as the race gath­ers momentum.
It’s unlike year when Dynamos had to launch a massive assault on the title when at one time they were 12 points behind favourites FC Plat­inum.
Dynamos beat Hwange 4-2 at Rufaro on Sunday and while the win could have been overshadowed by the drama that unfolded just before the match, it was good enough to see them moving a point shy of rivals Highlanders.

The Harare giants could have scored more than half a dozen goals had their strikers been precise in front of goals while their defence appeared shaky and allowed a bat­tling Hwange to reduce the arrears.
A brace by Rodreck Mutuma, either side of the break, and further efforts from the outstanding Takesure Chinyama and Denver Mukamba had appeared to set

Dynamos for a mas­sive win against Hwange, who had turned into their bogey side.
Chinyama’s effort had quality writ­ten all over it after the controlled and turned, in an instant, creating a pocket of space before firing an unstoppable shot into the corner.

It was a pity that the national broad­caster ZBC or even Supersport cam­eras were not present at Rufaro to cap­ture that special moment for their tele­vision viewers.
Hwange, played without their coaches Nation Dube and Mamelo Njekwa, after the two had allegedly been assaulted by a DeMbare mar­shals following a clash in the tunnel.

Despite being short on technical guidance, Hwange charmed some of the neutrals at Rufaro with their pass­ing game and good movement.
Eric Chipeta struck a stunning free kick while Daniel Kamunenga, who controlled the midfield, scored a sec­ond goal for Hwange deep in time added on, leaving Dynamos coach Callisto Pasuwa angry by the lapse in concentration by his defence.
“The guys took a 4-0 lead and then relaxed.
“We are just coming from a 6-0 defeat in Tunisia and need organise a solid defence.
“We need to talk to the defence,” said Pasuwa after the match.

Hwange skipper Rodwell Chinyengetere showed some flashes of brilliance but ended up playing for a losing team.
“We failed to defend in the first half and we were punished although we tried to hold on.
“The absence of our coaches affected us because already morale was low when went to play.
“We tried but it was just not our day,” said Chinyengetere. 
This weekend, Dynamos will be fac­ing their nemesis Esperance of Tunisia, in the Champions League sec­ond round, second leg qualifier at Rufaro.

Its asking too much from Dynamos to expect them to overhaul the 6-0 drubbing and turn over the tables but at least the Harare giants can take the game to their opponents and show that they are no pushovers.
Highlanders have a chance to go further ahead this weekend when they host Monomotapa but Bosso coach Kelvin Kaindu yesterday chose to remain modest as they now lead the table.

Sebastian Mutizirwa gave the police side the lead but Bosso rallied from behind with Simon Munawa scoring a brace while Masimba Mambare added the third.
“It (being at the top) means a lot for the team for now.
“We are trying a to build team for the future and we are not comment­ing on the championship right now,” said Kaindu yesterday.
The Zambian coach, a former High­landers player before the turn of the millennium, believes club football in Zimbabwe has improved for the better since his days a player.

“Football has improved because most teams are more conscious when playing.
“Most teams are playing defensive football and that’s why strikers are not getting a lot of goals than before,” said Kaindu.
But while Bosso and Dynamos are enjoying their run in the league to befit their status, it’s not all rosy at CAPS United who lost 1-0 to Monomotapa on Saturday and pres­sure is mounting for the Green Machine.
Northern Irishman Sean Connor is yet to win a game since embarking on his campaign as his strikers have been firing blanks.