adminunwarranted penalties for the visitors as well as a red card flashed in the face of Buffaloes key player Themba Ndlovu all within 35 minutes of play, failed to choke a resurgent Buffaloes much to the admiration of about 10 000 fans who watched the match.
Buffaloes also became the first team in the league to halt Dynamos’ unbeaten run this season.
One would forgive Mutare soccer fans for celebrating the victory as if they had won the league title as they threw new coach Timothy “Sicho” Masachi into the air after the final whistle. Until yesterday Buffaloes had not won in their last five outings which led to the resignation of coach Saul Chaminuka but yesterday they found their feet and esnured they would not be intimated by the champions’ high profile status.
Despite Chitsa’s biased officiating Buffaloes remained unyielding as they battled for the crucial points.
Watungwa Watungwa failed to pick a single point in their last five Premiership outings against Highlanders, How Mine, Shabanie Mine, Chicken Inn and Black Mambas – a development which led to Chaminuka’s resignation and ushered in a new technical department.
In yesterday’s match, Dynamos performance was dull from the onset and Callisto Pasuwa’s men were a pale shadow of the imposing side they nornally are.
Buffaloes took the lead just two minutes into the match when inspirational midfielder Wonder Sithole punished his former paymasters by dribbling past a static Augustine Mbara then worked his way past Thomas Magorimbo before placing the ball home.
Fans were then treated to daylight robbery in the seventh minute when Dynamos was awarded a penalty out of nothing and up stepped Clive Kawinga who beat a diving Chengetai Tandadzai to level the score line.
For some strange reason, Chitsa, who spoiled an otherwise entertaining encounter, repeatedly seemed to take no notice of a number of fouls committed by Dynamos players.
The referee also turned a blind eye in the 21st minute when Gift Bello clearly handled just outside the box but the disappointing match official waved play on.
In the 22nd minute, striker Washington Pakamisa propelled his team into the lead when he tapped in the net from close range on a second attempt off Morris Kadzola’s fine cross from the right.
However, two minutes later, former Highway and How Mine striker Stephen “Dealer” Sibanda restored parity when he headed home a beauty.
As the plot thickened, referee Chitsa sharpened his swords against Buffaloes and left Kawinga “to go away with murder’’ in the 27th minute when the Dynamos striker handled while the referee was just a few yards away, but once again he chose to see no evil.
The worst was still to come!
Buffaloes’ main man Ndlovu was sent for an early shower in the 35th minute after receiving an inexplicable yellow card for and was later given his marching orders when he protested against the referees’ decision.
Kawinga once again took the penalty but poetic justice prevailed when man of the match Tandadzai stretched wide to parry the ball out.
It appeared the referee was left with no choice in the 60th minute when Russell Madamombe clumsily hacked down a goal bound Sithole in the area and this time Chitsa duly pointed to the spot.
Sibanda made no mistake as he sent George Chigova the wrong direction to score the winner for Buffaloes.
Still madness continued as Chitsa went on make a number of dubious decisions.
In the 75th minute Chitsa awarded Dynamos a free-kick when Prosper Matizanadzo had noticeably been fouled by a Dynamos player, a few yards outside the box.
Interestingly, during some post match interviews, both Masachi and Pasuwa blamed the referee for poorly handling an otherwise entertaining encounter.
“It is unfortunate that we lost this match. The refereeing was just bad. When we went into second half I think the referee felt like he should perform a balancing act given the two penalties he had given us in the first half. This was just poor match officiating.
“As a team we also played badly and I think it all has to do with the bumpy pitch. We cannot player our normal game in such a bumpy pitch,” said Pasuwa.
His opposite number Masachi hailed his players for a gallant show in the face of adversity.
“I really want to thank my players for showing maturity. I am happy with the result but the referee was bad. Dynamos did not deserve the two penalties they were given in the first half and the red card was just cruel but I am hay the better team of the day won,’ said Masachi.
Teams:
Buffaloes: C Tandadzai; K Mwaramba; A Dzumbunu; T Ndlovu; P Chandisaita; P Matizanadzo; F Banda (P Alfasi 46th minute); P Thembani (S Nkata 91st minute); W Sithole; J Muzokomba; S Sibanda:
Dynamos: G Chigova; M Murape; M Kadzola (66th minute); O Mushure; A Mbara; G Bello; S Alimenda; C Kawinga; R Madamombe; T Magorimbo; W Pakamisa (B Zirintusa 56th minute):
Online Reporter