daniel chigunwe
Tadious Manyepo
Sports Reporter
Dynamos…………………………………………………0
ZPC Kariba……………………………………………….0
IF only league games were also decided on penalties.
Maybe, just maybe, Dynamos would have won their season opener at Rufaro yesterday.
It’s now becoming something one can even predict — that a DeMbare game will end in a draw in regulation time.
Last week, that was the case when they won the Castle Challenge Cup after a penalty shootout.
It also means that the Glamour Boys have not won a match in their last FIVE league games.
They were beaten 1-2 by Green Fuel, lost 0-2 to Ngezi Platinum Stars and had two goalless draws against Manica Diamonds and ZPC Kariba last year.
The Glamour Boys have scored just once in those five games.
That’s just one goal in 450 minutes.
DeMbare coach Lloyd “MaBlanyo” Chigowe said:
“Like I said, prior to the match it was always going to be a tricky match. If you remember last season we drew one all with ZPC Kariba.
They did not give us space and they came with an intention to get a draw.
“They were tenacious in defending and we played only on the break. Otherwise, we wanted to win more than them. They came here to sit and defend and make sure that they didn’t concede a goal.
“In the end, we shared the spoils. Probably a true reflection of the tactical approach of both teams. I think that’s good enough.
“It was always going to be a difficult match considering that it’s a new team.We look at the players that we had last year. It’s totally different this year.
“It’s a mixture of young stars and also the senior players. It was always going to be a tough game to play. You can see that we dominated proceedings, especially in the second half.
“This team (ZPC Kariba), for all intents and purposes, did not take a shot on goal. No shot on target.”
Just like their opponents yesterday, DeMbare are still trying to cope up with the huge personnel loss suffered in the pre-season transfer window.
It’s a process and it takes a bit of time and effort as the body of evidence was in full display yesterday for both teams.
ZPC Kariba, who built a huge defensive reputation last season, conceding just 18 goals in 34 games, know their offensive limitations.
But, they tried to launch some counter attacks and Collin Muleya’s snap shot almost got them the lead a minute after the break but Prince Tafiremutsa was properly positioned to smoother its sting.
Besides those few chances from both ends, play was mostly concentrated on the channels and midfield with neither able to get the right formular to break clear.
It was at some instances a very slow encounter between two teams trying to find themselves after suffering those huge blows brought by losing the core of their squads from last year.
Teams
Dynamos
Prince Tafiremutsa, Emmanuel Jalai, Nomore Chinyerere, Clive Mandivei, Tendaishe Magwaza, Shadreck Nyahwa, Elton Chikona (Enasio Perezo 80min), Temptation Chiwunga, Frank Agyemang (Jairos Kasondo 80min), Leeroy Mavunga (Abel Gwatidzo 71min), Valentine Kadonzvo (Tellmore Pio 54min)
ZPC Kariba
Tatenda Munditi, Boid Mutukure, Marshal Gavaza, Simbarashe Chimanikire, Kuzivakwashe Madima, Collen Muleya, Vitalis Chidzero, Munashe Kamwendo (Emmanuel Edmond 65min), Wayne Kamurai (Remmington Masuku 87min), Fanuel Shoko (Samuel Makawa 65min), Stanley Ngala (Moses Demera 80min)
Online Reporter