Kings of the Castle

Premiership crown before a big festive crowd at Rufaro.
Dynamos were nervous for long periods in this decisive game but improved in the second half to break down a stubborn Kiglon to be crowned the 2011 champions at a packed Rufaro.
Goals from Roderick Mutuma and Guthrie Zhokinyi handed the Glamour Boys the victory they needed as their nearest rivals FC Platinum were winning 3-1 against Shooting Stars 3-1 at Gwanzura to ensure a photo-finish with the top two teams level on 58 points.
An electric atmosphere engulfed the stadium when a Zimbabwe National Army helicopter landed on the pitch to deliver the silverware, much to the delight of the Dynamos family, who had suffered the agony of finishing second best in the last three seasons.
The Blue Army were not anticipating another disappointment after battling hard to position themselves well following the 1-0 victory over title rivals FC Platinum at Mandava last week.
DeMbare, who lost the title to Motor Action last year on goal difference, got it right in front of goal this season while their defence was unyielding to give them a superior goal difference of +27 compared to FC Platinum’s +23 on the final log standings.
A crowd of 30 780 paid to watch yesterday’s match grossing US$106 829.
Dynamos were left with a net of US$57 000.
Dynamos owe much of their success to a superb second half performance this season.
Coach Callisto Pasuwa has conjured a massive transformation in fortunes in the last 11 games in charge after taking over from Lloyd Mutasa.
Pasuwa, who helped revive the Glamour Boys’ faltering campaign, was modest in success and paid tribute to the players and the previous technical team for their contributions.
“I would like to thank the previous coaches for building this team. When we got in we didn’t have to do much but to make a few changes here and there and bringing in Cuthbert Malajila.
“We came at a time when the players were losing hope and we told them that they could do it and they believed in themselves,” said Pasuwa.
DeMbare needed to win yesterday’s game to ensure their status as the new Premiership kings but they appeared to hurry their passes with few clear chances coming their way as Kiglon remained resolute.
Brenna Msiska’s men had nothing to play for but they did well to frustrate the Glamour Boys in the opening minutes.
They had the first crack at goal when Michael Mageja got to the end of a high ball from Brighton Pamhirwa but sent his header over the crossbar.
Then DeMbare took the game to them from then on and Murape Murape’s rising shot went over the bar from a move that involved Mutuma and Denver Mukamba, 11 minutes into the game.
They had a genuine penalty appeal turned down the next minute when defender Casper Machona handled inside the box trying to close down Mutuma.
With Kiglon repelling all the moves, DeMbare were getting restless but they got the tonic they needed going for the breather when Mutuma received the ball under close surveillance from three defenders, inside the box, and somehow managed to pick his spot and forced his shot into the bottom corner.
Mutuma’s goal, which literally came from nowhere three minutes into the referee’s added time before the halftime break, virtually broke Kiglon’s resistance and gave Dynamos hope.
This was Mutuma’s 14th of the season, which also confirmed him as the Golden Boot winner.
He could have added another goal in the 68th minute but his long range effort crashed against the woodwork.
Defender Zhokinyi, however, gave DeMbare the cushion they needed when he jumped high to bury David Kutyauripo’s freekick in the 86th minute and the stadium burst into delirium.
Malajila should, at least, have got his name on the scoresheet but the DeMbare gunman fluffed several opportunities including a 55th minute sitter when he was sent through the middle by Mutuma but missed the target with the goalkeeper at his mercy.
Malajila was guilty of another miss at the stroke of full time when he skied his shot from a rebound pushed into his path by substitute goalkeeper Seaba Maponga.
The Kiglon keeper had punched back into play Mutima’s stinging shot just inside the box.
But midfield anchorman Milton Makopa’s consistency could not have gone unnoticed as he, clearly, was the best man on the field, never putting a foot wrong for long periods.
Makopa twice tried his trademark long-range shots but the first was punched out for corner by goalkeeper Stephen Chimusoro just before the hour mark.
Kiglon captain Arnold Chivheya was on hand to block another effort in the 69th minute.
“These guys played well and although we were jittery in the first half I think we settled well in the second to get the two goals that won us the match.
“I think the boys were putting themselves under pressure to get an early goal hence there were no proper build-ups.
“They were just pumping the ball forward when we needed to be patient and start it from the backs. Otherwise we played well in the second half,” said Pasuwa.
It has been a very eventful year for the Glamour Boys who made a late charge for the championship after an indifferent start to the season where they played second fiddle to Motor Action and FC Platinum earlier in the year.
The unbridled joy that brought together the players, fans and the members of the executive at the end of the 90 minutes said it all.
The celebrations then moved to Mubaiwa Hotel in Chitungwiza, owned by club chairman Kenny mubaiwa, where they partied all night after clinching a record 18th title.
DeMbare had, following the turn-around at Mandava last week when they dislodged FC Platinum from the top with a 1-0 win, been in charge of this race.
The handwriting was clear on the walls that nothing would stop them from taking their 18th league title.
Kiglon and Shooting Stars who featured in the decisive matches for the title yesterday were nothing more than pawns in the fight between Dynamos and FC Platinum as they had nothing to play for since they had both been relegated.
DeMbare had an upper hand going into the match as FC Platinum needed to win by at least five goals.
With DeMbare winning 2-0, it meant FC Platinum needed to win 7-1 at Gwanzura.

Teams
Dynamos – W. Arubi, D. Kutyauripo, T. Magorimbo, G. Bello, G. Zhokinyi, M. Makopa, M. Murape (M. Vengesai, 81st minute), D. Mukamba (T. Muparati, 52nd minute), A. Gutu, C. Malajila, R. Mutuma
Kiglon – S. Chimusoro (S. Maponga, 83rd minute), K. Kapikinyu, P. Muzondo, C. Machona, A. Chivheya, P. Sithole (L. Mwashita, 58th minute), K. Mageja, K. Desmond, B. Pamhirwa, L. Chibwiro, N. Mazivisa