Chronicle Editor
Eddie Chikamhi, Senior Sports Reporter
Herentals 0 – 0 Dynamos
ONE shot on target, just one, in 90 minutes of action.
That’s what Dynamos managed yesterday in a Chibuku Super Cup group show, which was so poor, their coach Tonderai Ndiraya described it as frustrating.
The Glamour Boys were disjointed going forward, at the National Sports Stadium, it was not a surprise Herentals goalkeeper, Frank Kuchineyi, was virtually on holiday, the entire match.
Winger Jarrison Selemani had the only shot on target for DeMbare, and that came 20 minutes, into the game.
Signs of poor match fitness were evident as both teams struggled to find their feet, the entire 90 minutes, with too many stray passes and a number of errors.
Although action was limited, at both ends of the field, the Students asked more questions than their established opponents.
Clemence Zimondi, Gibson Chaibva, the ageless 49-year-old Innocent Benza, and second-half substitute, Blessing Majarira, all came close.
Although both teams could draw comfort from the fact that all the Group One games ended in stalemates, this was the first match, in the entire tournament, which failed to produce goals.
Dynamos and Herentals were the first teams to fire blanks in the opening matches.
Herentals, who were technically the home team, had better chances but could not make use of the opportunities.
The Students featured their 49-year-old club owner, Innocent Benza, who partnered his son, Tinotenda, upfront.
The Glamour Boys went into this game amid widespread reports, in the capital, their flagship sponsors, Gold Leaf Tobacco, had pulled the plug on their relationship with the club.
The two parties signed a sales and distribution agreement, two years ago, but reports claim the sponsors have not realised real value from the deal.
Club sources, though, claim the deal is still on and have dismissed the reports as fake news.
Selemani’s goal attempt for Dynamos came after 20 minutes but Herentals goalkeeper Kuchineyi had no problems with the waist-high shot.
Herentals’ Clemence Zimondi probably had the best chance of the day but he missed the target, with DeMbare ‘keeper Taimon Mvula, seemingly in a bad position, just before the break.
Defender Chinobva then made a rare venture into the Dynamos half but his long range shot swerved just wide, following a poor piece of defending, by the Glamour Boys.
Then, there was communication breakdown between father and son, inside the box as Tino and Innocent combined to waste a good opportunity, to punish the lethargic DeMbare defenders.
The senior Benza was then pulled out and his replacement, Blessing Majarira, scooped his shot over the crossbar, after an exchange involving Zimondi and Tino Benza on 57 minutes.
DeMbare defender, Sylvester Appiah, then saw his header, from a corner kick taken by substitute Barnabas Mushunje, with seven minutes remaining, being scrambled out for corner.
Teams:
Herentals: F. Kuchineyi, W. Chimbetu, T. Benza, C. Zimondi (T. Mataranyika, 73rd minute), G. Chinobva, P. Chota, I. Benza (Blessing Majarira, 49th minute), D. Chitsanzara, Brighton Majarira (C. Lumbulani, 88th minute), K. Dhlamini
Dynamos: T. Mvula, P. Jaure, T. Muringai (T. Mawarire, 85th minute), F. Makarati, S. Appiah, T. Mavhunga, A. Maliselo, K. Nadolo (T. Chiunye, 56th minute), T. Chidhobha, T. Makanda (A. Eonde 69th minute), J. Selemani (B. Mushunje, 69th minute).
Online Reporter