Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi
Zimpapers Sports Hub
Dynamos……………… (0) 1
MWOS..………………….. 0
FOR a week that had threatened to spiral, Dynamos needed something to hold on to. They found it at Rufaro yesterday.
After days of boardroom noise and uncertainty, the Glamour Boys gave their supporters a result to cling to, edging MWOS 1-0 in a tight, sometimes scrappy contest that never quite settled.
Jairos Kasondo’s penalty, struck with 17 minutes left, did the job.
It keeps Dynamos unbeaten after five games and lifts them to 11 points, right in the mix behind early leaders CAPS United. More importantly, it calms the mood, at least for now.
Coach Genesis Mangombe wasn’t getting carried away.
“We need to work hard,” he said.
“We have seen some positives, so we said let’s consolidate on these good things we are doing and then also try to rectify our negatives so that we have fewer negatives and, going forward into the league, start winning games.
“I’m happy that they responded very well and everyone was also trying to make sure that we come back to the winning ways as Dynamos.”
For MWOS, it was a first defeat of the season and another frustrating afternoon at Rufaro, where they are still yet to score since promotion.
Coach Lloyd Mutasa didn’t hide his disappointment. “I want to say thumbs up to Dynamos,” he said. “I think we never gave a shift that we thought we could have given at some points. We were not up there today.
“We never created much, probably one or two chances in the whole 90 minutes. And we considered a silly penalty that we thought we could have avoided. But such is football.
“If you play and not have many attempts at goal, you cannot win matches.”
The table is tightening.
CAPS United stay top on 12 points despite their defeat at Ngezi. Dynamos, Scottland and Ngezi Platinum Stars are all on 11, the pressure building with the Easter fixtures coming thick and fast.
For Dynamos, this one wasn’t pretty. It didn’t need to be.
After the week they’ve had, three points was enough.
The build-up had been anything but smooth. Fallout within the executive had dominated the conversation, with four members shown the door amid accusations and counter-accusations over sponsorship deals. The tension was visible around the club.
But football has a way of cutting through the noise.
Dynamos turned up in a new kit, AfricaBet now on the back, the oversized shorts drawing murmurs from the stands. It didn’t matter in the end. What mattered was the response on the pitch.
They started well. Bright, urgent, pushed on by a loud Rufaro crowd.
Kasondo had the first real sight at goal, but his free-kick crashed into the wall after 14 minutes. There was intent, but also impatience.
MatchDay 5
Yesterday
Bulawayo Chiefs 0-0 Simba Bhora, Dynamos 1-0 MWOS, FC Hunters 1-1 ZPC Kariba, Hardrock 4-1 Herentals, Manica Diamonds 0-0 Chicken Inn, Ngezi Platinum 1-0 CAPS United, TelOne 2-3 Scottland.
Today
Highlanders v FC Platinum (Barbourfields)
DeMbare victory irritates Robson Sharuko because it prevents him from having a go at Benard Marriot Lusengo his lifetime enemy. I am sure if he had enough money, he would brine every referee handling to DeMbare games to sway games against the team. Throwing insults and diatribe at Marriot has become Sharuko’s lifestyle.