Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi-Zimpapers Sports Hub
Dynamos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1
CAPS Utd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 2
PERHAPS the biggest takeaway from the Harare Derby yesterday was that the rivalry between CAPS United and Dynamos is real.
This was after Makepekepe inflicted a heartbreak of ages on their football nemesis when they extinguished the dream of a bus gift that was pledged for DeMbare by businessman and philanthropist Wicknell Chivayo last week.
The soaring expectations and the capacity crowd at Rufaro captured the derby mood well.
The condition was simple. Dynamos needed to win the match in order to claim the bus promise, valued in excess of US$200 000.
But the Green Machine were in no mood to entertain the idea. Goals from Ishmael Wadi and Kudzai Chigwida either side of the half broke DeMbare’s hearts, with Jairos Kasondo getting the consolation from the spot in-between.
But from the onset, this clash was more than just a usual football match.
As is traditionally the case, bragging rights were on the line, and there was even more to play for, for both teams.
CAPS United needed to bounce back to the top of the table after they were dislodged by Hardrock the previous day.
There was also a tantalising incentive from the club president Farai Jere, who dangled a carrot by doubling the winning bonus for each player to US$1 000.
For Dynamos, this was one big challenge of their lives, with eyes firmly on a new set of wheels.
But DeMbare’s bus dream was rattled as early as the first 10 minutes of the game.
“To us, the players and the team, it wasn’t officially communicated,” said Dynamos coach, Genesis Mangombe.
“But if you see on social media, some of the things will end up true.
“So, we wanted to win so that whatever comes, maybe we will get it. But what we wanted also was the winning bonus and, at the same time, to better our position on the log standings,” said Mangombe.
DeMbare, who were coming from a defeat at Chicken Inn last week, have now gone five matches without winning, after playing three draws and suffering two defeats.
The pain of losing the Derby also went straight into the hearts of the passionate DeMbare fans, after seeing their team thoroughly outplayed.
“Yeah, it’s always painful to lose to CAPS United. Also, coming from a defeat from Chicken Inn, I think we wanted this game,” said Mangombe.
“We wanted maximum points in this game. But it’s a game of football. We tried our best. And also, the boys played well.
“But save for the result, which was not in our favour. I’m also happy with the response to the situations in the field of play. For instance, coming from behind, they managed to equalise.
“But now, at this level, I just thought we lacked that concentration and maturity,” Mangombe said. The atmosphere at Rufaro was electric, with the kick-off having to delay by 15 minutes to allow ticket checkers to clear the long queues forming around the stadium.
DeMbare fans formed the larger and more vociferous part of the crowd inside the stadium, but they were silenced early when Wadi headed home at the back post from a 10th-minute corner kick by Chawanangwa Kaonga.
CAPS United immediately seized control of the game, and the cheers grew louder when Wadi made a meal of defender Collen Mujuru leaving him sprawling on the turf moments later.
Makepekepe could have buried the game in the first half, but they fluffed good scoring opportunities, with DeMbare goalkeeper Harmony Nare, who was at fault for the first goal, redeeming himself with a string of one-on-one saves.
Nare made a heart-stopping block to deny Malawian Kaonga from point blank range following a swift counter-attack facilitated on the middle by Bret Amidu in the 35th minute.
Amidu, Lloyd Njaliwa and skipper Richard Hachiro, who returned from injury in time for the derby, virtually dwarfed their opponents, reducing Shadreck Nyahwa, Perfect Chikwende and Mujuru to mere passengers.
Still, CAPS United returned from the breather threatening to overrun their old foes.
Wadi broke through the wide right flank after beating a poor offside trap, but he was a bit slow with his drawback to Takunda Benhura, who was quickly clipped by Hastings Chapusha, and the ball trickled out for a corner kick, narrowly missing the upright.
DeMbare coach Mangombe made a triple substitution just before the hour mark, trying to rescue the situation.
Substitute Kasondo had the best chance after running into space, but he shot tamely at the goalkeeper Wallace Magalane from inside the box.
But Nare remained the busiest of the two goalkeepers, twice forced to make critical saves in the second half.
CAPS United were also denied by the upright midway through after Benhura’s header bounced off the upright from a corner kick. Dynamos got the lifeline they desperately needed when Perfect Chikwende was brought down inside the box by defender Nyasha Gurende.
Makepekepe felt the decision was too soft from referee Brighton Chimene, but Gurende was also careless on that instant.
CAPS United supporters expressed their displeasure by raining missiles on the pitch, causing a brief stoppage.
And when Kasondo eventually took the responsibility, he made no mistake from the spot to reignite DeMbare’s faint hopes with nine minutes of regulation time remaining.
But the drama was far from over as CAPS United got their own penalty in added time following a collision between Christopher Netty and Makepekepe’s 88th-minute substitute Junior Banisi.
Veteran defender Chigwida buried the dagger in DeMbare’s hearts, with a well placed penalty, to earn his teammates the US$1 000 winning bonus and a place back at the apex after reclaiming the lead from Hardrock.
CAPS United coach Takesure Chiragwi was impressed by his team’s character.
“It’s important to have persistence every time when you play to make sure that you get points that you need.
“So at the end of the day, I think we are happy today that we have collected maximum points and we are adding points as we are going for the marathon.”
Makepekepe are now on 25 points from 12 outings, one point ahead of their closest chasers, Hardrock.
DeMbare have dropped to seventh on the log standings with 17 points.
Teams:
Dynamos: Harmony Nare, Christopher Nettey, Anotidaishe Gwatidzo, Hastings Chapusha, Collin Mujuru, Shadreck Nyahwa, Frank Agyemang (Stanley Billiat, 57th min), Wisdom Mutasa (Tellmore Pio, 57th min), Perfect Chikwende (Abel Gwatidzo, 84th min), Witness Shave, Moses Demera (Jairos Kasondo, 57th min)
CAPS Utd: Wallace Magalane, Brian Kadamanja, Talent Chamboko, Nyasha Gurende, Kudzai Chigwida, Lloyd Njaliwa, Richard Hachiro, Brett Amidu (Munashe Chando, 66th min), Chawanangwa Kaonga (Davison Marowa, 66th), Takunda Benhura (Obriel Chirinda), Ishmael Wadi (Alleny Mukombedzi, 66th min, Junior Banisi, 88th min)
