Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
BIKITA MINERALS’ emphatic 3-0 win over Herentals in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Sakubva Stadium yesterday saw Dynamos drop further down the league standings with just three matches remaining.
Dynamos, who are in the Chibuku Super Cup semi-final at the weekend, are now third from bottom and must now win two of the remaining three matches to be in with a survival chance.
That makes their MatchDay 32 clash with Bikita Minerals at Rufaro a must-win blockbuster on the opening weekend of November. If Bikita Minerals avoid defeat, then Dynamos’ survival hopes will be hanging by the thread. Yesterday, Bikita Minerals cruised to a comfortable win despite being reduced to 10 men in the 58th minute after Chelsea Nyakope was sent for an early shower for a second bookable offence.
10 minutes later, Tinashe Mazambani could have snatched the lead for The Students but his effort flew across the face of goal as it left the sizable crown in attendance on the edge of their seats in anticipation of a tap-in that never came.
Bikita Minerals coach Wilson Mutekede heaved a huge sigh of relief after the final whistle.
“I think this was a well-deserved result. We played well and I am happy with the result we got. It leaves with less pressure as we fight to avoid being relegated. We now focus on the remaining matches with hope of replicating this good performance and hopefully live to play in the topflight league again next season,” said Mutekede.
His opposite number Celestino Benza, said their performance was unacceptable. “This was unacceptable, to say the least. We were just not applying ourselves well. Yes, we had our moments but still failed to convert and there is no way you can compete in football when you are not scoring goals.
“We will have to regroup and make amends in the areas we faltered going into the remaining fixtures. We hope to rebound and go back to our winning ways,” said Benza.
Meanwhile, Kelvin Kaindu says he never dreamed of coaching Dynamos, but fate had other plans.
The Zambian gaffer, once a fan favourite at Highlanders, shocked the football world when he crossed the divide to join the Glamour Boys after being sacked by Bosso in June.
“I think the rivalry between the two teams has made it difficult for a player or coach to move from Highlanders to Dynamos or vice versa,” said Kaindu. “I never imagined myself coaching Dynamos. I think there’s no coach who has moved straight from Highlanders to Dynamos.
“However, this was made easy by the employer and employee relationship that was tabled, and also by the way I left Highlanders. I never imagined myself on the other side of the dressing rooms. I really felt how it is being an away team,” he added. Kaindu made history this season by becoming the first coach to sit in both dugouts of Zimbabwe’s biggest football fixture in the same campaign. He led Highlanders when they drew 0-0 with Dynamos at Rufaro on June 1, then returned to the same stadium months later, this time wearing blue.
Under his guidance, DeMbare are slowly clawing their way back from the drop zone. “It has just been through hard work and it has not been easy,” said Kaindu. “However, we are still bottom of the log, but I’m happy we have been picking up points and we’ve caught up with most of the teams.” Dynamos are stuck in 16th place with 34 points, level with Triangle United, Greenfuel, and Manica Diamonds as the relegation dogfight tightens.
