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Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
Dynamos 1-0 Triangle
DYNAMOS coach CallistoPasuwa yesterday said there is nothing like a bad win after his side produced one of their worst performances this season despite edging struggling Triangle in a Castle Lager Premiership match at the National Sports Stadium.
Winger Tichaona Mabvura scored a beautiful goal in the 29th minute to relieve pressure on the defending champions on a day when the strikers Simba Sithole and Patrick Khumbula took turns to miss several clear cut chances especially in the first half.
Mabvura’s goal was probably the highlight of the match after the midfielder controlled the ball following good work by Ronald Chitiyo who beat his markers to set him up at the edge of the box. The DeMbare winger responded with a ferocious low shot that beat goalkeeper Ronald Mudimu into the bottom corner of the nets.
DeMbare could have scored more goals but they wasted the chances. Dynamos strikers have been awful this season and yesterday was another bad day in the office. It was going to be a different story if Triangle had managed to take their game a gear up and decided to be more aggressive.
Unfortunately the visitors, who were battling to erase memories of the 4-0 thrashing by FC Platinum in their last assignment, also appeared they were not up for it. DeMbare were lucky their opponents never threatened their goal. It was going to be difficult for them to come back if they had conceded.
Sithole had more than three good chances to get his first goal of the season but the former Warriors man was pathetic and it was surprising he lasted the whole match as supporters whistled to show their disapproval.
Dynamos’ poor fortunes started as early as the 11th minute when the striker was sent through the middle but his shot was blocked by the goalkeeper before Ronald Chitiyo blasted the rebound over the crossbar.
Chitiyo, who occasionally flaunted his class with some clever touches, turned the provider a few minutes later when he delivered a low cross into the box but Sithole could not complete even the simplest task as he could only manage a slight touch of the ball into the hands of the goalkeeper.
The lowest moment of his afternoon came when substitute Washington Pakamisa decided to square the ball into his path with five minutes remaining on the clock but somehow it appeared he was not concentrating as the ball rolled across the face of goal with the keeper at his mercy.
Khumbula also had his moments when he let his team down despite his work-rate. It appeared his industry was misdirected at times and was subsequently replaced Washington Pakamisa.
Just like his team’s pitiable performances, Pasuwa’s post match interviews are becoming too predictable these days. The DeMbare coach was careful not to openly criticise his players as he, for the umpteenth time, pointed out that they would need to go back to the drawing board to work on their finishing.
Pasuwa said he has faith in his strikers and has faith they will turn the corner as he is looking at the bigger picture to retain the title for the fourth year running.
“I am happy for the three points but again it’s the chances that we are missing that are costing us at the end of the day. Like always, we have to work on our strikeforce because we need to improve in that area.
“It’s the chances that they were missing but the skill for them to be in those areas is there. But for Simba Sithole it’s how he positions himself when we get the ball. I think it’s only the chances that he is missing and we will have to work on that.
“To me (the team’s performance) is okay. Other teams may score many goals but we will see which team wins the championship at the end of the season. It’s the (long term) objective that counts. I am happy for the boys we collected three points. The fact that we won makes it okay. We are collecting the points,” said Pasuwa.
Despite their unattractive way of play, DeMbare have now managed to string together three wins in succession. They climbed to third place on the log standings and have managed to reduce the gap between them and Highlanders to one point after the Bulawayo giants were held to a 1-1 draw by FC Platinum at Barbourfields.
Triangle were already in the drop zone and yesterday they dropped one place further and slumped to their sixth loss in 10 games. Their coach Biggie Zuze, who was forced to play with a makeshift defence following the aggravation of centreback Chastern Ngondonga’s injury, said he was worried by his side’s poor fortunes.
“We are very much concerned by the way we are losing matches. There are lot of matches that we lost which we shouldn’t have lost but this is the game and we just hope this will end soon as we now prepare for Highlanders at home,” said Zuze.
Dynamos — D Chigova, B Moyo, O Mushure, P Jaure, T Ndlovu, T Magorimbo, C Sekete (W Mukanga, 58th minute), R. Chitiyo, T. Mabvura (O. Machapa, 85th minute), S Sithole, P Khumbula (W Pakamisa, 78th minute)
Triangle — R Mudimu, P Tonha, B Chimwamuchere, C Rukwanhi, J Tigere, P Manhanga (F Kuswatuka, 78th minute), M Muneri (M Mukumba, 46th minute), H Bakacheza (T Chitora, 46th minute), R Kawondera, T Chipunza, N Lameck.
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