Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi
Zimpapers Sports Hub
Dynamos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
Manica Diamonds . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
MAXIMUM points continued to evade fading giants Dynamos after their Castle Lager Premier Soccer League relegation dog-fight against Manica Diamonds ended in deadlock at Rufaro yesterday.
The point from this match was not enough to ease the Glamour Boys’ relegation worries as they remained rooted second from the bottom of the log table.
With 12 games remaining in the campaign, games are running out fast to save the campaign after falling seven points behind the relegation cut-off point.
Even the staunch DeMbare fans are now giving up hope, although stand-in coach Philemon Muyakureva remained adamant that the former champions could pull a Houdini Act and eventually duck the chop.
“Yeah, it was a difficult game, considering Manica Diamonds are also fighting relegation with us, but I thought maybe, with a bit of luck, we could have won.
“We could have won or scored one or two goals and unfortunately this is the result.
“We will take the point and go back and work towards making sure we become more clinical in front of goal.
“The chances (of surviving relegation) are still there. What’s needed now is to make sure we don’t drop points like we did today. We’re still in there, we still can survive, so it’s up to us to make sure we change, we change what has happened,” said Mutyakureva.
Both Dynamos and Manica Diamonds put up below par performances yesterday.
But amidst the gloom, DeMbare’s new signing Wisdom Mutasa provided the spark with some fine touches in midfield.
His industry was, however, not complemented by his teammates.
Dynamos struggled to keep possession and were playing too many stray passes.
The hosts went into the match on the back of deflating PSL sanctions which included a $5 000 fine for the abandoned away match against FC Platinum. They were also dealt a big blow following the suspension of head coach Saul Chaminuka by the PSL Disciplinary Committee, on top of a $4 000 fine for his role in the Mandava mayhem.
With most of the disillusioned DeMbare supporters now choosing to stay away from the team’s matches, the small number that attended yesterday’s duel continued to sing behind the struggling boys.
Midfielder Tellmore Pio forced a brilliant catch from Gem Boys goalkeeper Tadious Baye after 17 minutes.
With chances few and far between at both ends, Manica Diamonds’ appeals for a penalty were turned down by the referee following a handball inside the DeMbare box with 63 minutes played.
Then DeMbare’s Ghanaian forward Frank Agyemang hit the upright from a corner kick taken by Abel Gwatidzo midway through the second half.
Substitute Leeroy Mavhunga also came close but his header from an aerial ball at the back post found goalkeeper Baye alert, with six minutes remaining on the clock.
Manica Diamonds were the better team in the second half but they could not fashion out clear-cut chances.
Following yesterday’s stalemate, Dynamos moved to 16 points from 22 games while Manica Diamonds also remained in the relegation matrix after going eight matches without winning a game.
The Gem Boys’ coach Tafadzwa Mashiri knows they are not safe on 15th place after amassing 22 points from 21 starts. Mashiri, however, was encouraged by some glimpses he saw from his team.
“I think it’s a good shift in terms of performance, bad in terms of results, a very good first half where we controlled the proceedings,” said Mashiri. “We dominated possession, and we created numerous chances, but we fell short when it came to conversion. We could have at least got a goal in the first half, but it was the attempts that we made.”
Teams:
Dynamos: Tatenda Makoni, Emmanuel Jalai, Abel Gwatidzo (A. Mandinyenya, 81st min), Clive Mandivei, Denis Nhongo, Shadreck Nyahwa, Temptation Chiwunga, Costa Nzviyo (E. Perezo, 46th min), Wisdom Mutasa (L. Mavhunga, 81st min), Tellmore Pio, Frank Agyemang
Manica Diamonds: Tedious Baye, Farai Banda, Lawrence Mhlanga, Lawrence Masibera, Mark Fodya (A. Rupande, 60th min), Takunda Jeffrey, Bret Amidu, Clive Dzingai (N. Mupanduki, 68th min), Sibusiso Ndlovu (B. Tshipamba, 84th min), Fortune Binzi (A. Chivandire, 84th min) Kudzanai Dhemere (C. Teguru, 60th min)
