Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo in MHONDORO-NGEZI
IT all started at Chahwanda Stadium exactly 48 days ago.
But the match didn’t run its course due to rampant crowd commotion and the chaotic scenes that left many, mostly Dynamos supporters, injured, with some needing hospitalisation.
Then the carry-on at a neutral venue, Baobab in Mhondoro-Ngezi, yesterday.
The showdown was aborted on May 24 before a packed Chahwanda with 76 minutes played and the scoreboard reading 1-1 after a desperate Misheck Ngwenya had beaten his own goalkeeper in the opening half before substitute Wilfred Madzungu converted a penalty in the second half to bring the fixture to ground zero.
In their assessment of the Chahwanda mayhem, the Premier Soccer League Disciplinary Committee found both teams guilty of causing the abandonment of the game.
The judgment, despite an appeal by Hardrock, culminated in the continuation of the 14-minute game in an empty stadium.
And yesterday, the usually bubbly Baobab never really came to life, with the match looking like a training session.
A handful of Dynamos and Hardrock officials, sitting separately, were shouting on top of their voices, encouraging their respective teams, with seven journalists observing the drama.
No team was allowed any substitutions since both had exhausted their quotas from the first phase at Chahwanda.
The same line-ups that were deployed at the time of the Chahwanda chaos took to the field, with the same officials led by referee Mhaka Magara, presiding over the mini-show.
The restart was literally as chaotic as it was when the match was called off on May 24.
With Magara instructing, Hardrock had to take a throw-in, in Dynamos’ half, DeMbare had to seek an explanation.
A one-minute delay followed before Hardrock captain Munyaradzi Diro-Nyenye took the throw.
It was long and straight into the box, but DeMbare cleared their lines.
As expected, both sets were rushing on, chasing for a goal that would most certainly give them the points.
Hardrock, just seven points behind leaders Scottland going into those 14 minutes, dominated the ball but Dynamos covered their territory well.
Then Witness Shave, who of late hasn’t been visible, scored the goal that would lift DeMbare up to third with 37 points in 21 matches.
The winger, brought by Genesis Mangombe, a missing factor in this game after rejoining Triangle, picked the ball on the right flank and cleared a thicket of Hardrock defence before cutting in and hitting the ball with his left.
The ball beat Tonderai Mateyaunga in goals for the Kwekwe miners, but not the upright post, and Moses Demera, lurking around, bundled it home.
That was it.
And just like that, in a 14-minute contest that stretched to 17, Dynamos brought full points back to the capital city.
It felt sweet, so sweet for them and bitter for their opponents, who now have to do more to catch up with a Scottland outfit, whose feat (winning the championship in their debut season), they dream of replicating this season.
For the DeMbare faithful, the victory was made even sweeter by the fact that Dynamos were forced to feed painkillers to two of their injured players — defender Hastings Chapusha and goalkeeper Idrissou Nfor.
They had no other option, as only players who were on the field at the time of the abortion on May 24 were allowed to take part.
And after sacrificing to take an injection to be able to play in this fixture, Chapusha almost broke down in the middle of wild celebrations in their changing room.
“For me, the win is more than just three points,” he said.
“I am at a loss for words. I am still unfit, but for the love of the Dynamos badge, I had to risk it all.
“And to get a result inside just 14 minutes means a lot for me.
“My love goes to the Dynamos fans who were encouraging me through text messages and my family.
“A huge salute to the boys for a job well done. I haven’t fully recovered, and I am going to sit out for further weeks, but I mean, to come here and get this win after such a sacrifice means the world, literally.”
Aristica Cioaba, the Dynamos’ Romanian Technical Director, prepared the team but wasn’t allowed on the bench.
He sat in the terraces with members of the DeMbare executive committee, including the chief executive officer, Desmond Bvute, and secretary-general, Divine Sena, with the trio erupting wildly after Dynamos had scored.
Team manager Ronald “Gidiza” Sibanda directed proceedings and saluted both Nfor and Chapusha for their sacrifices.
“Such sacrifices are rare in the modern era of football,” said Sibanda.
“We just told our boys to try and look for the goal, and we got it. That was superb from the team.”
Demera, playing on a pitch he called home last year, was ecstatic after once again showing that he is a man for the big occasion.
He said, “Of all the goals I have scored in my career, I think this one is amongst the best when it comes to sentimental value.
“I just had that feeling that we would score, and when Shave cut in, I just loitered in there, and the ball came just right.”
Hardrock were left dejected.
Their coach, Kelvin Kaindu, who saved Dynamos from relegation last season, was even more dejected.
He admitted defeat and acknowledged that Dynamos were better prepared and smarter.
Playing for just a quarter-of-an-hour and squeezing victory needs focus.
Dynamos had that, in abundance.
