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Eddie Chikamhi Harare Bureau
Dynamos 0-0 Hwange
DYNAMOS coach David Mandigora was disappointed with the two points dropped at home as the defending champions suffered yet another setback after they were held to a goalless draw by Hwange in a Castle Lager Premiership soccer match at Rufaro yesterday. Mandigora said the Glamour Boys, who forced a 1-1 draw against the same opponents at the Colliery last weekend, did not come to the party after chasing the ball for the better part of the afternoon and missed a couple of chances.
DeMbare needed to win yesterday to gain some ground in the championship race after log leaders Chicken Inn had played out a goalless draw with Caps United the previous day.
However, Hwange did not give them the chance. In fact, the coalminers were so good they could also have come out with a deserved victory had they been more clinical with their finishing, especially in the opening minutes.
Hwange dominated the midfield battles with former DeMbare winger Farai Vimisayi involved strongly in most of the moves. Their three-man strikeforce of Pritchard Mpelele, Rodwell Chinyengetere and veteran Gilbert Zulu was always venturing into good positions.
The visitors won almost all the loose balls and they were effectively in control that the absence of the home side’s midfielder Ronald Chitiyo through injury and fellow linkman Stephen Alimenda, who is sitting on a three-match ban, was heavily felt.
The duo of Obey Mwerahari and utility man Godknows Murwira started as the twin defensive linkmen but they could not keep up with the heat while newboy Richard Kawondera did not have a perfect debut in the blue and white strip.
DeMbare dropped one place on the log standings to fourth place with 28 points. They swapped places with How Mine who beat Buffaloes 1-0 yesterday to move to 29 points, one behind leaders Chicken Inn.
Although a point appeared a fair result yesterday, Mandigora was still not happy with his team’s performance.
“When playing at home it’s not good enough to get one point. We needed to get three points,” said Mandigora.
“I’m disappointed with the result and also with the way we played today. We didn’t do very well although we created some chances in both halves. But that’s football.”
DeMbare have often struggled with their strikeforce and yesterday they fielded two of their mid-season signings Rodrick Mutuma and Kawondera to back Dominic Chungwa but they missed a number of good chances.
Chungwa and Kawondera were guilty of missing a good chance just seven minutes into the game when Mutuma beat his man on the left and delivered a low cross into the box. Both strikers arrived inches late and Hwange survived as the ball rolled across the face of goal. But then it was Mutuma’s turn to miss an even clearer chance inside the box about three minutes later when he failed to control his header which zoomed over the crossbar with the keeper badly exposed.
However, Hwange looked dangerous in the opening minutes as they virtually laid siege on the DeMbare territory. They also had some good attempts at goal and Rodwell Chinyengetere knew he could have done better when he shot wide from close range after receiving the ball from veteran forward Zulu inside the box.
The teams were inseparable at half-time but Chungwa nearly gave the hosts the advantage on the 57th minute with a well struck shot which needed goalkeeper Takabva Mawaya to collect on second attempt.
The Glamour Boys then had appeals for penalty turned down when Kawondera went down inside the box under challenge from Hwange captain Gerald Ndlovu.
Dynamos’ best chance of the afternoon fell on newboy Kawondera in the 79th minute. Mutuma had done well to shield the ball under heavy challenge from Hwange defenders and released it to substitute Walter Mukanga whose delightful one touch pass sent Kawondera through the middle. But the striker couldn’t pick his spot well as he shot wide when coming face-to-face with the goalkeeper.
Hwange coach Nation Dube also rued some missed chances. The visitors invaded Dynamos’ goal area and Chinyengetere forced a good save from Mukuruva in the 72nd minute. Then DeMbare had their lucky stars to thank when David Boriwondo’s shot on the turn came off the woodwork with 15 minutes remaining in regulation time.
Dube was not happy with the draw, which was his side’s 10th in 16 games. They moved one place up to 11th on the log standings but Dube now wants his charges to convert the performances into wins as they have featured in the most number of draws than any other team this season. There is hope. People are talking about relegation but I don’t think there will be relegation issues with Hwange,” said Dube.
“As long as we keep playing like this we’ll eventually get the wins. But as for now, I can’t say I’m happy with this one point because we need to win games. We need maximum points to get away from where we are (on the log standings),” said Dube.
Teams
Dynamos: T. Mukuruva, B. Moyo (W. Mukuanga, 44th minute), O. Mushure, S. Linyama, A. Mbara, G. Murwira, O. Mwerahari, Q. Amini, R. Kawondera, R. Mutuma, D. Chungwa (K. Bulaji, 65th minute)
Hwange: T. Mawaya, A. Chuma, M. Mungadze, G. Ndlovu, D. Boriwondo, C. Muleya, I. Muchaneka, F. Vimisayi, P. Mpelele, R. Chinyengetere, G. Zulu
Sidumisile Mabena