adminRicky Zililo in Bulawayo
TelOne…………….(1) 1
Dynamos…………(0) 1
TEN-MAN Harare football giants Dynamos fluffed numerous scoring opportunities against a disciplined TelOne as they shared the spoils in an exciting Castle Lager Premier Soccer League encounter at Barbourfields yesterday.
DeMbare went into yesterday’s game smarting from three consecutive league defeats following the firing of the unpopular coach Lloyd “Mablanyo” Chigowe, who was replaced by returning Dynamos son Tonderai Ndiraya, and the former champions had themselves to blame for failing to sneak out of Barbourfields with maximum points.
TelOne played with discipline, keeping possession for the better part of the game, but it was Dynamos who had better scoring opportunities which they fluffed.
Blessing Sibanda punished Dynamos for being wasteful as he flicked the ball home, connecting a delightful cross from rightback Marvelous Chigumba in the 42nd minute.
Dynamos went into the break trailing and they equalised in the 54th minute through a well-taken free-kick by Cameroonian midfielder Vincent Mbega whose strike left TelOne goalkeeper Tanyaradzwa Huni rooted to the ground.
“A draw is a positive result for us considering that I just took over a team whose morale had hit rock bottom. I’m happy with the positives that I saw because what we basically worked on in the build-up to the game was the psychological aspect of the game, to get confidence levels up.
“I saw some fighting spirit from the boys and I’m happy with the point on the road. We created some scoring opportunities that we failed to utilise and we will be working on that,” said Dynamos coach Ndiraya after the game.
Dynamos’ Congolese forward Mangala Ngandu first threatened in the ninth minute but lacked the final pass after dribbling past a TelOne defender.
Blessing Sibanda should have given TelOne the lead in the 11th minute but his shot went agonisingly wide.
DeMbare had loud cries for a penalty landing on deaf ears of the referee after TelOne defender Innocent Zambezi appeared to have fouled Mbare-born Jarrison Selemani in the box in the 17th minute.
Dynamos fans reacted to the incident by throwing missiles on the field.
Five minutes later, Dynamos leftback Tinotenda Muringai hit the top corner of the TelOne goal post from a set-piece.
Dynamos kept pushing for an opener and Selemani almost punished an over-confident Frankson Bushiri for dilly-dallying with the ball at the back and fired straight at goalie Huni.
It was all Dynamos attack with Tawanda Macheke wasting DeMbare’s best offensive play of the day as he chose to go for goal instead of laying the ball to a better positioned Mbegga in the 34th minute.
When TelOne chose to make a meaningful attack, they scored in the 42nd minute through Sibanda.
Dynamos’ central midfielder Godfrey Mukambi was red-carded in the 66th minute for foul language directed at the referee after being booked for a rough tackle on a TelOne player.
TelOne tried to use their numerical advantage but found DeMbare resolute.
“It’s a good point but I feel we should have made the most out of this game. We will keep working hard to get as many points as possible as we continue with our maiden season in the Premiership,” said Jairos Tapera, the TelOne coach.
Teams
TelOne: Tanyaradzwa Huni, Stephen Phiri, Frankson Bushiri, Marvellous Chigumira (Mcebisi Moyo, 89th minute), Innocent Zambezi, James Jam, Emmanuel Zinyama, David Mangesi (Jacob Muzokomba, 77th minute), Emmanuel Mandiranga, Tafadzwa Sibanda, Blessing Sibanda (Fredrick Muza, 77th minute)
Dynamos: Simbarashe Chinani, Emmanuel Jalai, Munyaradzi Mawadza, Tinotenda Muringai, Jimmy Tigere (Kudzanai Dhemere, 57th minute), Tawanda Chisi, Godfrey Mukambi, Vincent Mbega, Jarrison Selemani (Ali Maliselo, 77th minute), Mangala Ngadu, Tawanda Macheke (Vialli Tadzoka, 83rd minute).
Online Reporter