malvernmugadzikwa
Nkosilathi Sibanda in BULAWAYO
Chicken Inn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
Dynamos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 2
HARARE giants Dynamos’ resurgence continued when they put on a spirited show to subdue Chicken Inn in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League encounter at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday.
DeMbare appear to have been jolted by an ultimatum that was hanging over coach Herbert Maruwa’s head.
Yesterday’s win meant they have now gone four games without defeat, as they have won three matches and drawn once.
While the game initially seemed to have been headed for a share of the spoils, Dynamos turned on the style after the break.
A 67th-minute strike from Elton Chikona and yet another late goal by Congolese Eli Ilunga right at the death ensured Dynamos maintained their dominance over the Gamecocks.
Defeat also piled more pressure on Chicken Inn coach Prince Matore, whose side has been struggling for consistency this season.
Matore, thrust into the hot seat following a pre-season dressing room reshuffle that jettisoned Joey Antipas from the technical bench, attributed the defeat to loss of concentration by his players.
Under his guidance, Chicken Inn have won five games, drew seven and lost three. With the Premiership race so tight and not leaving much room for errors, Matore has every reason to be a disappointed man.
“It was disappointing. We expected to do well. We lost it due to the failure to concentrate on marking the opponents.
“We had some few errors on the defensive side,” said Matore.
The former Motor Action assistant coach also defended his substitutions, which appeared to rile the handful of Gamecocks fans at the stadium.
Chicken Inn fans were not amused that Matore had made a double substitution, hauling off the pair of George Majika and Raphael Kutinyu.
“I am not regretting,” Matore said in his terse response.
The changes, however, seemed to have helped hand the initiative to Dynamos.
For DeMbare, the win was made all the sweeter as it was the first since they moved to Barbourfields following the closure of the National Sports Stadium for renovations.
They were, however, the away team yesterday.
After seemingly getting the monkey off his back, Maruwa is happy with the way Dynamos are now going about their business.
“There is a lot of progress in the team so far,” Maruwa said.
“We have moved to utilise more offensive players.
“I am happy the substitutes came in and gave another dimension and the result was good.”
They might have been the visiting team for this particular assignment but Dynamos were virtually at home with their vociferous crowd rooting behind them.
The fans got into their groove right from the start when poster boy Denver Mukamba, in trademark fashion, waved them on and what followed was a deafening noise from the Mpilo End terraces.
Mukamba and his teammates did not disappoint the fans.
They got the crucial win that took fourth-placed Dynamos to within two points of leaders Highlanders.
Bosso are in action this afternoon when they date unpredictable Herentals at Mandava.
Teams:
Chicken Inn FC: D Bernard, M Hwata (C Augusto, 62 mins), X Ndlovu, M Bhebhe, G Majika (G Mutungamiri, 50 mins), A Chinda, C Dzingai (T Chibunyu, 76 mins), D Jaricha, S Mhlanga, T Kutinyu (B Muza, 50mins), M Charamba (O Malajila, 62 mins)
Dynamos FC: P Tafiremutsa, S Nyahwa, K Moyo, E Moyo, D Mukamba (E Ilunga, 45 mins), D Dzvinyai, E Jalai, E Chikona, A Musiiwa (F Makarati, 87 mins), K Madera (E Paga, 65 mins), T Shandirwa.
Online Reporter