Online Reporter
Mugove Chigada-Deputy Sports Editor
COLLIN Mujuru’s equaliser for Dynamos at Rufaro on Sunday did not only ensure a share of spoils with Highlanders, but made a mockery of DeMbare’s first 13 games in 2025.
It took exactly those number of games, 13, for DeMbare to score four goals, something they have achieved in two.
For the record, by week 13 last year, although DeMbare had nine points after those games, they had only managed a single win.
That too, they changed on the opening day.
In many ways, that also gives the picture of why the Glamour Boys needed a fairytale end to the 2025 season under Kelvin Kaindu to avoid relegation.
If last season was not a wake-up call for DeMbare, then nothing is.
Going into the 2026 season, they needed a new beginning, and they could not have done it better than first hiring a coach whose name literally speaks to that — Genesis.
That restart was in full display on Sunday.
“They were aggressive, they were quick in their breaks,” Bosso coach Benjani Mwaruwari concluded.
Credit will go to Mwaruwari’s Highlanders for bringing their A game, forcing Genesis Mangombe to change the script in the second half. It was a typical “Kaka” operation, a proud moment for the Vincent Chawonza-led executive who at one stage during pre-season flirted with the idea of a Great Khali (Kalisto Pasuwa) return.
That four different players have found the back of the net so far for DeMbare, could be in indication of that hunger. But this is still coming in drips, and with time it could come with devastating effects.
In their 2-1 away win to TelOne, Jerry Chipanguru had given TelOne the lead early in the game before Frank Agyemang and Jairos Kasondo ensured the giants walked away with their heads up.
Pio Tellmore, who scored the first equaliser against Bosso at Rufaro, is the fourth scorer this season.
In contrast to last year, DeMbare had four goalless draws against ZPC Kariba, Herentals, Kwekwe United and GreenFuel.
They managed two 1-1 draws against TelOne and CAPS United. Their only win (1-0) in those 13 games came against Simba Bhora, while they lost to Manica Diamonds (1-0), Chicken Inn (0-1), MWOS (1-0), Scottland (0-1), Triangle (2-0) and Ngezi Platinum (2-1).
Away from Harare, in the City of Kings, Bulawayo, a red carpet has been partly rolled out to Benjani for a good brand of football.
On Sunday, goals from Never Rauzhi and Mongameli Tshuma almost buried DeMbare. But reality now is Mwaruwari must try to find his way out of the murky waters before it gets too muddy.
The Bosso coach will be aware that this has been their second worst start to a season since the end of Covid-19. But all that could change when they face MWOS at Barbourfields tomorrow.
MWOS have also drawn their first two games and are seeking a breakthrough.
Bosso will be hoping that home support gives them their first three points.
And if MWOS suffer defeat at BF, celebrations could reach far and wide — including in Mabvuku.
And it is in Mabvuku where the first two games have also not gone Scottland’s way.
At the centre of it all is decorated coach Norman Mapeza, who has won four titles with two different clubs.
Two points collected in the first two games of the season against what seemed to be very tough opponents is perhaps the greatest test of patience in the champions’ camp.
That they have changed the face of football in Zimbabwe and brought it back to life has never been in doubt.
But that they are mid-table after two games with two points is also a reality check, whichever way you look at it.
So what is different now for Mapeza?
Expectations remain high from Scottland, just like was the case during his years at FC Platinum.
In his first two games for FC Platinum in the years that he eventually won the title, in 2017, 2018 and 2021/22, he never dropped any point in those first two games of the season.
His record now, in a title winning season, is only better than that of his Monoz of 2008, when he lost the first four games of the season, but recovered to win the title. That worst record, however, needed him to ensure a 76 percent success rate in the remaining 26 games to achieve the ultimate goal.
If Scottland start to push in defence of their title, it could be Manica Diamonds first to pay the price on Thursday. For Manica Diamonds, it may be too early, but the warm glow in darkness could be short-lived.
But 2026 could be a different ball game altogether. CAPS United, Chicken Inn, HardRock, FC Platinum, MWOS and Ngezi Platinum will also have a big say in the title race.
Dynamos first 13 games in 2025
P W D L F A Pts
13 1 6 6 4 10 9
Norman Mapeza’s four title winning
seasons First 2 games
Monoz 2008 Mapeza 0 points Champions
Fc Platinum 2017 6 points Champions
FC Platinum 2018 6 points Champions
FC Platinum 2021/22 6points Champions
Scottland 2026 2 points
Peter Tanyanyiwa