adminTadious Manyepo in GWERU
DYNAMOS coach Herbert Maruwa is a relieved man after he passed a two-match ultimatum imposed on him by the club’s management following this come-from-behind victory over Black Rhinos at Bata Stadium yesterday.
The Glamour Boys had to dig deep to secure maximum points, albeit with the help of referee Allen Bhasvi who gifted them what looked like a non-existent brace of penalties.
Rhinos’ Daren Mutimuzunze had broken the deadlock with a masterclass shot 11 minutes into the second stanza before Bhasvi inexplicably awarded dubious penalties in the 76th minute and at the death, with Donald Dzvinyai and Eli Ilunga converting from the spot.
Although Maruwa has always denied that he has been under a two-match ultimatum, Dynamos chefs insisted he was going to be fired had his charges failed to win this match.
Maruwa was instructed to win the two matches against ZPC Kariba and Black Rhinos last month and he passed the first test after nailing the Kariba side 3-0 at the National Sports Stadium.
He was supposed to lead his players into another must-win encounter against Black Rhinos at the same venue a week later but there were complications around the giant facility which needed some attention having hosted most of the matches this season with eight teams using the ground as their home turf.
The unavailability of the stadium forced the Premier Soccer League to halt matches for three weeks with all the eight teams who were using the ground for their home matches forced to look for alternative options.
And Black Rhinos, who sank deep into the murky waters with yesterday’s defeat, are now using the recently refurbished Gweru facility.
They were cheered by a sizable crowd and played very well with newly added players that include the returning duo of Lot Chiunga and Pride Mukombwe.
But it was Maruwa who walked out of the tense battle smiling after passing the two-match test or rather exorcised the talk around it since he denies the ultimatum.
Firstly, I was not under any ultimatum to win this match. It’s something that I’m hearing from you reporters,” Maruwa said.
“I’m happy with the win because this was a tense match. There are some players who moved from Black Rhinos to Dynamos and there was tension from the start but I’m happy we have won and now focus is on the next match.”
But the giants needed two dubious penalties from controversial referee Bhasvi to overcome a determined Black Rhinos side that played heartily at their newly-adopted home.
Bhasvi gave Dynamos a lifeline fourteen minutes to fulltime when he awarded them the first penalty, adjudging that Rhinos defender Chelsea Nyakope had handled inside the box.
There was a lengthy stoppage as Black Rhinos protested the penalty. After the tempers cooled down, Dzvinyai stepped up to send Lenon Gonese in goals for Black Rhinos the wrong way.
With the match seemingly heading for a draw, Bhasvi awarded another penalty to Dynamos after what he saw as a rough challenge on Denver Mukamba. He was hesitant for some seconds before blowing for the penalty.
Black Rhinos, who had four new players in their lineup, started the match brighter of the two with Chiwunga finding himself at the end of a long pass from the back but he delayed to pull the trigger, allowing Dynamos defence to close him out.
DeMbare’s Shadreck Nyahwa escaped a straight red card after he needlessly stamped on Allen Gahadzikwa on the shoulder in an off the ball incident.
Dynamos started making inroads into the match towards the end of the first half, getting their first corner kick two minutes from the breather.
Emmanuel Paga and Junior Makunike tested Gonese with two long range shots but the goalkeeper who was making his first start for the soldiers was equal to the task.
Black Rhinos for their dominance broke the deadlock eleven minutes into the second half through Mutimuzunze, who scored with a speculative long range free kick from just a few yards off the centre line.
Chiwunga could have added a second when he shielded the ball from Mudadi but shot tamely at the goalkeeper.
Black Rhinos coach Saul Chaminuka refused to entertain questions on the officiating for fear of punishment from the authorities.
“That’s football, you just have to take it and move on. When the referee says it’s a penalty, you just have to oblige,” Chaminuka said.
“We lost the focus when we had a lot of time remonstrating against the decision on the penalty and it affected our rhythm.”
Teams:
Black Rhinos: Lenon Gonese, Chelsea Nyakope, Douglas Mbewe, Tatenda Mchisa, Daren Mutimuzunze, Nkosi Mhlanga, Brian Mukucha, Allen Gahadzikwa (Genzan), Pride Mukombwe (T Chitsamba 49th min), Lot Chiwunga (M Svinurai 79th min), Garikai Dematsika (M Mahodobi 67th min)
Dynamos: Prince Tafiremutsa, Shadreck Nyahwa, Kelvin Moyo, Junior Makunike, Emmanuel Paga (T Makanda, 57th min), Donald Dzvinyai, Emmanuel Jalai, Elton Chikona (A Musiyiwa, 84th min), Issa Sadiki (K Madera 57th min), Donald Mudadi (E Ilunga 84th min), Tanaka Shandirwa.
Online Reporter