Online Reporter
Veronica Gwaze
Zimpapers Sports Hub
REGARDLESS of what happens in the last two games of the season, the Dynamos 2025 story is nothing short of a miracle.
And Kelvin Kaindu stands at the centre of it.
After yesterday’s 1-0 win over Bikita Minerals, DeMbare are on 37 points, a point better than yesterday’s opponents, the team now occupying the last safe position on the Castle Lager Premiership log.
For a change, they are out of the relegation zone. Reality now is that a win against Yadah in their next game will almost help them survive with a game to go. This is given some of the bottom teams will face each other on the last day of action.
At Rufaro, captain Emmanuel Jalai’s first half goal from the spot was all it took for the Glamour Boys to finally take a giant leap off the red zone.
On position 13 with 37 points, they are only separated from Manica Diamonds, Chicken Inn and Highlanders by goal difference.
Whichever way you want to look at it, you will still be back to Kaindu as the starting point. This is the man who guided Highlanders in the first half of the season, got sacked and left the league for a period, came back to take over Dynamos from rock bottom and caught up with Bosso.
And this coach, who is yet to taste defeat since arrival, feels that faith has taken him this far.
“Looking at the time when I came in, I know many questioned my decision, but I think being a man of firm faith, I had belief where everyone else had lost it,” he said.
“Today (yesterday) was crucial for us. Throughout the week, as we built up, it was not easy because we had to focus on the tactics as well as the mental aspect of the game knowing very well that Bikita were going to come hard on us,” he added.
“From a coach’s perspective, this was our most difficult game of the season, and the slender lead speaks volumes.
“We created a lot of chances, but unfortunately we could not convert. Maybe it was due to pressure. But I am glad that we still managed to hold on to our lead . . . I will not single out individual players because we told ourselves that we needed to play as a unit if we are to survive this.”
The match got off to a slow start, with the home side appearing cautious in their approach.
Bikita could have opened the scores in the seventh minute when Busi Mathe courageously aimed for goal. His low effort beat Prince Tafiremutsa, only to miss the target by a few inches.
In the 11th minute, DeMbare created their first opportunity after patiently building up from the back. Leeroy Mavhunga set up a well-positioned Abel Gwatidzo on the left wing. However, he took his effort wide.
Three minutes later, Gwatidzo was behind the ball again. His good free-kick was, however, saved by Bikita’s Taona Temera.
Then came the most important moment, the blue army in the 18 yard box ready to pounce. And Tellmore Pio was brought down, winning a penalty for the hosts.
Jalai converted.
But they were not done yet. In the 30th minute, Dynamos made another attempt building through the left wing when Leeroy Mavhunga, off a Gwatidzo pass, set up Vusa Ngwenya who blew his effort over.
Ten minutes later, Mavhunga flighted brought in another perfect cross into the box, only for Jairos Kasondo’s header to go over.
Bikita waited until 42 minutes to test an alert Tafiremutsa.
Kasondo, Mavunga and Ngwenya could have extended the lead with a bit of luck.
Despite placing Dynamos under pressure in the dying stages of the second half, Bikita’s effort were in vain.
Bikita head coach Wilson Mutekede said Dynamos got better chances.
“The result was not good for us, we gave up easily and honestly Dynamos did not deserve the maximum points they got today (yesterday),” said Mutekede.
“But the result also speaks to the challenges that we have in trying to balance these things. I hope you get the irony.”
