DeMbare establish pre-match praying

By Augustine Hwata
THE traditional goalline praying act that had became synonymous with Dynamos players before kick-off, over the past two decades, has given way to a new act and, if this is what has brought this beautiful football, then who cares.
Until last year, Dynamos players would kneel across their goal line and pray to God asking for divine help to defend their territory.
But with the coming of former Kiglon coach Lloyd Mutasa, a firm believer in an Apostolic sect, a new way of pre-match praying has been established.
Before kick off, the Dynamos players form three rows near the centre of the field, then place their right hands on their chests and observe their ritual facing the east.
The same act is repeated at the end of the game.
When Mutasa was a player at Dynamos, he used to observe the goal-line prayer before kick-off but the coach has brought changes.
Yesterday Dynamos romped to a 3-2 win over bitter rivals CAPS United in an explosive and entertaining Bob ’87 Super Cup, a match that was held as part of the celebrations to mark President Mugabe’s 87th birthday.
The fans came from across the political divide and football proved once again to be a unifying force.
Mbare had been a political hotbed for the past few weeks but yesterday it swelled with football fans who witnessed a five-goal thriller.
Striker Evans Gwekwerere was labeled a modern day Judas Iscariot, and a football prostitute, by the Dynamos fans at Rufaro yesterday but the player kept his cool to silence the blue half with a classy early goal.
The Vietnam Stand, home to the hardcore Dynamos fans, turned on their former hero who has crossed the line to join bitter rivals CAPS United.
Dynamos were the first to ask some questions as they forced the CAPS defence to back-pedal and this inspired the fans in the Vietnam Stand to pour insults on Gwekwerere.
But Gwekwerere drilled home CAPS United’s opener after collecting a ball from the right flank in the second minute.
It silenced the Dynamos fans, in the big crowd, and the CAPS United supporters burst into the “Gwerekwere Bhora” signature tune.
“I knew that the Dynamos supporters were going to jeer at me.
“I came prepared and I was very confident that I was going to score,” said Gwekwerere.
Having played in several high-profile derbies before, Gwekwerere said he was never intimidated.
But did he for a brief moment think of going to celebrate facing the Vietnam stand?
“No, not at all. I still respect the Dynamos fans,” he said.
After the game, Gwekwerere took time to shake hands with his former colleagues at Dynamos.
“I have settled well at CAPS United,” said Gwekwerere who now wears the number 10 green and white shirt.
Dynamos drew level when Archieford Gutu struck midway in the first half and then Denver Mukamba put the Glamour Boys ahead in the second half.
The game had all the ingredients of a great derby as Arnold Chivheya was shown a red card for a second yellow towards the end of the first half and CAPS were a man short from there on.
Edmore Sibanda scored from free-kick and with the match seemingly headed for penalties, Gutu completed his brace to send the Dynamos fans into delirium.
At the end of the match, Dynamos chairman Farai Munetsi could afford a broad smile.
“At least we have proved that we have a good team in place,” said Munetsi.
Coach Mutasa, however, was quick to warn his players not get carried away with the win.
“This game is just part of the pre-season preparations.
“We have a team full of youngsters and some of them tend to get over-excited when we are in control but we should tell them the match is not over until the final whistle,” said Mutasa. In one of the moments towards the end of the game Mukamba beat his marker but instead of streaking clear, he decided to showboat before passing to Gutu.
CAPS United goalkeeper Edmore Sibanda said the match lived up to its billing as a derby and gave Dynamos credit for the win.
“We played to the best of our ability but I think we can still do better if we get a little bit more time to blend the old and new players.
“Dynamos did well and they were passing the ball so effectively.
“They are the benchmark and it shows we still have some work to do before the start of the new season.
“Maybe it has not yet sunk to some of the new players at CAPS that we have to raise our game in such derbies,” said Sibanda.