Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
Dynamos………………………..1
CAPS United………………… . . .(1)2
IT cannot get more painful than this.
For Dynamos, losing to arch-rivals CAPS United in the Harare Derby, like what happened in this Premiership defeat at Rufaro yesterday, is always disappointing.
But the stakes involved in this setback made it even more heartbreaking.
The Glamour Boys haven’t started the season as lowly as they were last year when they survived relegation by the skin of their teeth.
They are hanging around the leading pack, and, with a chance to even crawl up the tree.
Yesterday was an opportunity, not only for that, but to win the team a brand new $200k bus promised by Billionaire Sir Wicknell Chivayo for a win.
But all that came to nothing as a first half header by Ishmael Wadi and a late penalty converted by Kudzai Chigwida put paid to their hopes.
Substitute Jairos Kasondo had thrown some optimism around it all when cancelling out Wadi’s opener from the penalty spot.
In the end though, it proved it wasn’t their day as CAPS United climbed back to the top of the standings only 24 hours after Hardrock had dislodged them after playing their Match Day 11 fixture earlier than the Green Machine.
Makepekepe are now on 25 points while DeMbare stayed on 17 points after 11 games.
Dynamos coach Genesis Mangombe summed it all up saying “This is a painful defeat.”
And indeed, it was.
Bragging rights gone.
Three points gone.
And now eight points behind their rivals.
Then prospects of getting a bus, a whole bus, for the team, also gone. “It’s always painful to lose to our rivals CAPS United,” continued Mangombe.
“We lapsed and they pounced. It’s so disappointing. It’s always good to win games against CAPS United given the stakes always available.
‘‘Maybe some players played with a bit of pressure but playing a derby should have motivated them going into this game.”
Besides the bus, which would have made the current crop of Dynamos players heroes had they won it, the Glamour Boys had been promised US$1000 each, a little less than what CAPS United got for the win.
Minus the possible pressure that the Dynamos players exerted themselves, CAPS United bosses the game, in all the phases of play.
They had the better quality, better understanding, better coordination and more intelligent than their counterparts.
It was clear that CAPS United coach Takesure Chiragwi had done all his homework to the book. His boys won most of the duels, always picked the second ball and were quicker in executing their movements.Dynamos, despite asking the first questions were never at hand to answer what Makepekepe then inquired when Wadi headed home from a corner kick early in the game.
The Glamour Boys never really got back into it.
The goal unsettled them while it gave Makepekepe the wings.
The capacity crowd at Rufaro enjoyed every move and got the full value for their money as despite being a goal down, Dynamos also refused to be bullied into conceding a second goal, thanks in part to goalkeeper Harmony Nare who denied Chawanangwa Kaonga in a one versus one situation.
CAPS United should have added to the single goal at the resumption but they fluffed chance after chance until Dynamos won the penalty that referee Brighton Chimene appeared to be controversially awarding.
Then a draw was looking to be the most likely outcome as time rounded up but CAPS United debutant Malcom Junior Banisi had other ideas when, with only his second touch was felled inside the box and Chigwida made no mistake.
“I am very happy with this win,” said Chiragwi.
“The boys showed character and I and happy.”
WEEK 11 FIXTURES
Saturday
Bulawayo Chiefs 2-2 Herentals
FC Hunters 1-1 Ngezi Platinum
FC Platinum 0-0 Scottland
Manica Diamonds 3-1 Agama
MWOS 1-0 Chicken Inn
Simba Bhora 2-1 ZPC Kariba
TelOne 0-3 Hardrock
Sunday
Dynamos 1-2 Caps United
Highlanders 01-0 Triangle
