Magorimbo hails TM Pick n Pay

Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
DYNAMOS vice captain Thomas Magorimbo has praised the organisers of the TM Pick n Pay Challenge Cup for delivering a top-class event after leading the Glamour Boys to a convincing win over their old foes Highlanders at the National Sports Stadium on Saturday. The two-team tournament, which was sponsored to the tune of over US$300 000, saw Dynamos stretching their dominance over Highlanders to eight years following a convincing 4-1 win.

Although matches between the country’s two biggest teams have become almost predictable these days, Magorimbo said winning against Bosso always presents special moments to cherish, no matter how many times they play them in one season.

Before Saturday’s epic clash the country’s two biggest teams had already met three times this year with Dynamos coach Callisto Pasuwa getting the better of his Bosso adversary Kelvin Kaindu and winning all the matches.

The Harare giants, whose camp was rocked by discontent over unpaid bonuses last month, definitely eased their financial worries when they pocketed the winners’ prize of US$60 000.

DeMbare paid the price for the unrest in their camp when they went into battle without training and were inevitably sent crashing out of the Chibuku Super Cup by Black Rhinos.

The Glamour Boys are, however, still in the running for the One Wallet Cup and the league championship while the Mbada Diamonds Cup is also still on the radar.

Bosso received US$50 000 for their efforts, despite coming short in many areas against their old enemies.

Highlanders were flown to Harare for the match and both teams were booked at five-star hotel for two nights.

The manner in which the competition was organised charmed Magorimbo and the versatile Dynamos man revealed that the players had felt motivated to go into battle.

“This was a unique tournament. Everything was top class, the arrangements were of the highest order and I must say such things are motivating to the players. We need to see more of this in our domestic game even in tournaments that includes more teams,” said Magorimbo.

“It always feels good to win against Highlanders and it’s even more special because we scored four goals, which makes it convincing. We played as a team and I am happy we managed to maintain the dominance.

“The last time we played them at Barbourfields they really dominated the match although we won that game. The coaches told us we are going to change our strategy this time to close them down in the middle of the park and it worked well.

“This win means a lot to us but we shouldn’t relax. The league competition is getting intense and it will be suicidal if we forget everything else while celebrating the victory over Highlanders. We have to get back to serious work immediately and try to concentrate. This is now behind us,” said Magorimbo.

Slippery winger Tafadzwa Rusike, whose season has been blighted by injuries, continued with his rising form and was named man of the match to walk away with US$1 000 cash prize, US$500 grocery voucher and another US$500 Adidas sports voucher.

But the biggest winner on the day was Simba Sithole who had not scored a goal in competitive matches for Dynamos since last year.

The former CAPS United and Mamelodi Sundown man did himself a lot of good when he grabbed a brace to lay the foundation for Dynamos’ victory while Roderick Mutuma and substitute Washington Pakamisa weighed in with a goal each.

Magorimbo said the whole team was happy to see Sithole finally break his goal duck.

“We were all happy for Simba. We knew one day he was going to do it. He has been working hard to get his form and we were always reminding him what it happens in football, even with world-class players in the top football leagues,” said Magorimbo.

Highlanders gaffer took responsibility for his team’s defeat and said their game plan did not work on the afternoon.

Kaindu, however, ruled out that their constant failure against Dynamos, whom they have not beaten in competitive matches since 2006, had now become a psychological problem. “Every game is a different game. I don’t think it’s psychological. If we dwell much on that I don’t think we will go anywhere. We need to have belief in ourselves. It’s only that we just did not play our game.

“We try in every game, just like the last game we played in Bulawayo we were on top. We had hoped to take it up from there but it was unfortunate things did not go according to plan. Our defending was not good as well,” said Kaindu.