DeMbare revel in glory

Barbourfields which handed them a huge psychological advantage over their newfound Premiership rivals.
Dynamos powered to a 1-0 win over the miners with Cuthbert Malajila’s first-half strike deciding the game.

FC Platinum, who lead the Premiership log standings, are in a close title chase with second-placed Dynamos and to the average DeMbare fans, the Moneybags – who are in only their maiden dance with the top-flight – have become THE ENEMY, at least for this season.
There had also been so much hype in the build-up to last Sunday’s clash at Barbourfields – the first meeting between the two sides on neutral soil and that Zifa and the Premier Soccer League hired foreign match officials to handle the encounter seemed to have added some neutrality to the showdown.

A war of words, sparked by veteran forward Murape Murape’s sensational claims that FC Platinum appeared to be benefiting from a helping hand from local referees and the response by the miners’ secretary Phillemon Muvengwa helped to heighten tensions before the clash.
The fans also responded to the hype by packing Barbourfields with a section of the Highlanders fans choosing to side with FC Platinum.

And that Dynamos celebrated their semi-final win as if they had already won the cup told a story of how much a win over FC Platinum meant to them ahead of the two teams’ Premiership clash at Mandava in Week 29 of the league.
Jubilant Dynamos fans, who had painted Barbourfields a sea of blue and white, also caught the eye with their road show on their way from the stadium as their convoy of cars headed for the city centre and later out of Bulawayo. By yesterday, DeMbare fans were still in a jubilant mood, celebrating a hard won win in a game that had been dubbed “The final before the final”.

Dynamos also seem to have travelled the toughest road to the final after being drawn against bitter rivals CAPS United in the first round whom they eliminated with a 1-0 win at the National Sports Stadium before a more convincing 3-0 victory sent Shooting Stars tumbling out at Maglas.
But it was their 1-0 win over FC Platinum in the semi-final here on Sunday that had been much-hyped ahead of the two team’s encounter in the league game.
Motor Action beat Monomotapa 1-0 at Sakubva and then edged Blue Ribbon by a similar margin at Torwood before negotiating their way past relegation-threatened Zimbabwe Saints 2-0.

Veteran striker Cuthbert Malajila, standing in as captain in the absence of skipper Desmond Maringwa and his deputy George Magariro, struck the priceless goal in the third minute and the early advantage helped to settle the nerves of the DeMbare fans while it was FC Platinum, backed by a section of Highlanders fans on the southern grand-stand, who were on the back-foot for much of the game.

Despite the party mood having engulfed the Dynamos camp and their supporters, assistant coach Tonderai Ndiraya revealed yesterday that the celebrations had been cut short as they had swiftly turned their attention to league duties.
Dynamos resume their championship march tomorrow when they face Motor Action at Rufaro.
“We are happy to have stormed into the final of the Mbada Cup but the next focus is on facing the Mighty Bulls in a league game on Wednesday.

“Of course we have managed to beat FC Platinum and we are still going to meet them again in the league but for now we have already shifted focus to the next league game that is coming in-between,” said Ndiraya.

Dynamos were first out of the blocks on Sunday with Murape curling in a high ball in the box in the second minute to force FC Platinum goalkeeper Tafadzwa Dube into a save.
“Overall, I think we played well against FC Platinum in that we were moving the ball forward and creating chances.
“Maybe we could have scored more goals with better finishing in the first half,” said Ndiraya.

Malajila headed home in the third minute as he met a delivery from David Kutyauripo from the right. Denver Mukamba used his sublime skills to take his markers head-on and kept the supply open for Roderick Mutuma and Malajila up-front.

Murape made most of the running in the first half when he utilised the right channel.
However, Charles Sibanda and Donald Ngoma tried their best to beat Washington Arubi on a couple of occasions.
“We were forced to bring in the two defensive midfielders because were missing Tawanda Muparati, who is hardworking. So we wanted to squeeze them before they created any space and we managed to get the early goal that settled us,” said Ndiraya.

While the first half was entertaining, the second period was rather dull.
“Well, in the second half the guys wanted to defend the lead and we had to hang on to the goal from the first half. And what else can one do in a cup game?” said Ndiraya.

Ndiraya said they might have won twice against FC Platinum this season but he is aware that they have never played FC Platinum at their Mandava citadel and more worrying for Dynamos, is that they have never won a league game outside Harare this season.

In fact Dynamos have never scored a single goal in the league games away at Highlanders, Shabanie, Zimbabwe Saints, Chicken Inn, Hwange and Masvingo.
DeMbare’s victories outside Harare this season have been in the cup games in which they beat Hwange in BancABC Sup8r in the Lowveld and the Wild Boys in the Mbada Cup at Maglas before their win at Barbourfields.

“There was much talk before this game, but we prepared for it like any other normal game.
“Of course, there was the hype given to the game and that sort of exerted pressure on the guys. The other thing was the heat but I am glad we have now progressed and the next game against FC Platinum will be different.

“As I said we will focus on the league game against Motor Action first,” said Ndiraya.

While Dynamos are still chasing a double, Rahman Gumbo now has to greatly aim for nothing short of the championship.
FC Platinum lead Dynamos by two points and will be hoping their rivals’ jinx in away matches in the league will haunt them again.