Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi-Zimpapers Sports Hub
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MWOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0
A LOT of uncertainty engulfed the Dynamos camp for the most part of the week, following an ugly fall-out within the club’s management committee.
But as they have often done, Dynamos found a way to overcome their off-field problems with a significant Castle Lager Premier Soccer League victory that ensured that their unbeaten start to the season remained intact.
Sporting their immaculate new home strip, Dynamos battled long and hard to ensure one of their best starts to a season in years would not be disturbed by the Punters.
Dynamos on Wednesday saw the departure of vice-chairman Spencer Chihota, treasurer Justice Mubayi and committee members David Chokomo and Batson Nkoma.
This means until the club supremo Bernard Marriot Lusengo makes new appointments the trio of chairman Vincent Chawonza, secretary-general Devine Sena and chief executive officer Desmond Bvute, will run this storied club.
Chawonza, Sena and Bvute would have been as much relieved as they were thrilled with yesterday’s hard-won triumph over last year’s runners-up MWOS, via a second-half goal from Jairos Kasondo from the penalty spot.
As Dynamos look to head to Shamva on Sunday to face 2024 champions Simba Bhora, who are also unbeaten and are yet to concede a goal at their Wadzanayi fortress in Shamva, Chawonza, Sena and Bvute will also be confident of securing a result amid revelations of the players’ winning bonuses having been doubled by the trio soon after the FIFA international break.
After yesterday’s win, the Glamour Boys family are assured of a peaceful and relaxed Good Friday after the team yesterday gifted their supporters and stakeholders the kind of boost they needed going into the Easter holidays following a narrow win in a closely contested match against MWOS at Rufaro.
Striker Kasondo sealed the deal with a 73rd-minute penalty conversion, as DeMbare consolidated a strong start to the 2026 season.
The Harare giants are unbeaten in their opening five games, and yesterday’s victory was their third of the campaign.
Although DeMbare came to within a point of early pacesetters CAPS United on the log standings, coach Genesis Mangombe was not entirely pleased by his team’s performance yesterday.
On the positive side, Mangombe felt the win was key especially coming on the back of the disappointing 1-1 draw against newboys Agama, just before the teams went on FIFA break.
“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.”
The win yesterday helped stifle the noise in the cockpit after four executive members were booted out of office on the back of squabbling over sponsorship deals and allegations of backstabbing.
Dynamos pitched up in a new kit, emblazoned at the back with the new sponsor’s (AfricaBet) logo.
Victory also helped them take their points tally to 11 points, joining Scottland and Ngezi Platinum Stars in piling pressure on log leaders CAPS United, who were unmoved at the top despite falling 1-0 at Ngezi Platinum Stars.
Inspired by the vociferous backing of their fans at Rufaro, Dynamos got off to a blistering start and missed some good chances.
Kasondo blasted his free-kick straight to the wall from a promising position after 14 minutes.
But MWOS fought back strongly.
Their right flank was full of life with big Namibian forward David Ndeunyema combining well with Arthur Banda.
The duo was a handful to the DeMbare backline, with Ndeunyema’s rising scorcher whizzing past the Dynamos’ goal before the half-hour mark.
On the other side of the pitch, MWOS goalkeeper Tedious Baye was probably in the best form of his life as he repelled DeMbare attacks and making spectacular saves that ensured the teams were goalless for the most part of the game.
Baye made a double save, denying Perfect Chikwende’s long range shot before smothering a follow-up shot from Witness Shave towards the breather.
Midway through the second half, Baye flew to his left and punched out an impromptu pile drive from midfielder Tellmore Pio after 66 minutes.
Dynamos twice had penalty appeals turned down, but then the referee had to point to the spot after Matthew Murambiwa’s boot caught Kasondo on the chest in an attempt to make a clearance.
Despite passive protests from the visiting players, Kasondo maintained composure and sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot.
The Glamour Boys could have doubled their lead towards the end of the match when they beat an off-side trap, but Baye made a brilliant save with an outstretched palm to block a rising shot from Kasondo.
For MWOS, this was their first defeat this season. Their jinx at Rufaro, where they are yet to score a goal since the team’s promotion last season, followed them into this game.
Coach Lloyd Mutasa felt they did not play to their full potential.
“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 point. We were not up there today.
“We never created much, probably one or two, chances in the whole 90 minutes. And we conceded 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,” said Mutasa.
While DeMbare moved into third place, MWOS dropped to 10th on the log standings with six points.
Teams:
Dynamos: Tatenda Makoni, Abel Gwatidzo, Collin Mujuru, Christopher Nettey, Hastings Chapusha, Tellmore Pio, Shadreck Nyahwa (Wisdom Mutasa, 80th min), Jairos Kasondo (Moses Demera, 88th min), Perfect Chikwende (Agyemang, 60th min), Leroy Mavunga (Stanley Billiat, 60th min), Witness Shave (Trevor Mavunga, 80th min).
MWOS: Tedious Baye, Tafadzwa Nyabunze, Valentine Katsande, Innocent Zambezi Mathew Murambiwa (McSean Murambiwa, 75th min), Tinotenda Mutyambizi (Nigel Makumbe, 75th min), Malvern Mudzuka (Clive Kwangwari, 46th min), Aristotle Manyamba, Arthur Banda, David Ndeunyema (Tadiwanashe Murasiranwa, 60th min)
