Online Reporter
Langton Nyakwenda
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE champions Scottland will leave for Rustenburg, South Africa today on a high, after immediately bouncing back in their Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title defence via a hard-fought victory over battling Bulawayo Chiefs at Rufaro yesterday.
As they leave for their international friendly match against Kaizer Chiefs, Scottland would also be wary of the resurgence of the team they were set to meet in the Match-day 25 fixtures — Dynamos. This is because Dynamos finally found a way to win against FC Platinum at Mandava for the first time in seven years, with Burkina Faso striker Ben Sidibe finding his maiden first goal in the blue of the Glamour Boys in only his second match for the Harare giants.
Sidibe struck in the 71st minute, moments before he made way for Nathan Mutasa to make his long-cherished DeMbare debut off the bench.
Dynamos’ revival under Romanian coach Aristide Cioaba now looks real, and the rare win over FC Platinum at Mandava yesterday underlined their mission.
It was a result that moved DeMbare to second on the log table with 44 points, eight behind leaders Scottland.
They will remain there at least until today, when Hardrock and Ngezi Platinum play their respective matches. FC Platinum coach Joel Luphahla rued his side’s missed chances in what was a tense match in a packed stadium.
In the 71st minute, Dynamos’ new signing Sidibe cleverly shielded the ball away from an FC Platinum defender and delivered.
FC Platinum huffed and puffed in search of that elusive equaliser, but it was not to be.
Cioaba was elated with the result.
“It’s good for us because before coming here, I told everybody, let’s go and play for the result,” said Cioaba.
“Forget playing fantastic football against this team. Come here and play for the result. Stay a compact team, and if you have one chance, two chances, let’s go and score and win the game.”
FC Platinum coach Luphahla was visibly frustrated.
“It’s disappointing that we’re losing, especially at home,” said Luphahla.
“We come in front of our passionate fans. It’s our duty to make our fans happy by scoring, because at the end of the day, to win, you need to score goals. It’s not about dominating or anything.
“Dynamos only had one chance, and they got the goal. We had several chances. In the first half, we could have wrapped up the game. In the second half, with an open net to beat, the goalkeeper was not there, and we missed.
“So, I think it’s something that’s mentally draining the players, and the confidence is low. It’s like playing at home; they no longer have that confidence to play, but we need to have confidence. We are playing in front of our fans.
“These guys have been supporting us through thick and thin, even when we’re not doing well. Now we come here, we need to give them something. And it’s disappointing, especially now it’s our third loss at home, which is unacceptable by our standards. It’s very poor, it’s very poor.”
Scottland survive Bulawayo Chiefs scare
Scottland recovered from Sunday’s loss to Highlanders with the hard-won triumph at Rufaro.
They head to Rustenburg today on a high for Sunday’s Toyota Cup friendly against Kaizer Chiefs at Royal Bafokeng.
Yet yesterday’s assignment at Rufaro was a game of subplots for Mabviravira.
Zimbabwe international Emmanuel Jalai made his Scottland debut after his loan move from Durban City, while ex-FC Platinum defender Xolani Nyasulu also started in place of the suspended Kelvin Moyo.
Bulawayo Chiefs struck first through Melikhaya Ncube in stoppage time of the first half — a brilliant solo goal past Nelson Chadya.
It was the second straight game in which Scottland have conceded after earlier going for 10 games without Chadya’s goal being breached.
But skipper Walter Musona led from the front and turned it around.
He headed in a Mtokozisi Msebe cross to make it 1-1, then grabbed the winner in the 84th minute, heading home another delivery from the flanks, this time by Emmanuel Ziocha, that keeper Tinotenda Chinovhiringa fumbled.
The brace took Musona to nine goals for the season and three behind top scorer and Hardrock hitman Washington Navaya.
The victory is also a confidence booster for Scottland ahead of the showdown with Kaizer Chiefs.
Despite his otherwise strong defence being breached twice in as many games, Scottland coach Norman Mapeza is not worried.
He just wanted any kind of win yesterday.
“It was a very difficult game, we played a very organised team, defensively,” said Mapeza.
“If you look at their counter-attacks, it was perfectly coordinated.
“But at the end of the day, after coming from Bulawayo, psychologically the players would go down a little bit, but it’s the whole nature of the game.
“I said, let’s push.
“At the end of the day, I wasn’t worried about how we were going to win today.
“I wasn’t worried about it.”
When the second half resumed, Walter Musona made it 1-1, heading home a nice cross by Mtokozisi Msebe.
Musona then thrust Scottland into the lead after 84 minutes, once again heading a cross but this time it was from Ziocha who had roasted defenders on the right channel.
Bulawayo Chiefs keeper Chinovhiringa failed to deal with Ziocha’s cross.
“The boys gave their all, they tried their best.
“We came with a game plan, and I think the game plan worked, except for the mistakes that we made,” said Bulawayo Chiefs coach John Nyikadzino. His plan was to catch Scottland on the counter.
“We conceded two goals from the far post.
“Then, the second goal, I would say my goalkeeper should have done better in such a situation.
“That ball was harmless.
“Unfortunately, he fumbled the ball, and we conceded,” added Nyikadzino.
Scottland are now on 52 points.
