The Sunday News
Harare Bureau
Dynamos …………………………………………………… (2) 3
Buffaloes ………………………………………………………… 0
CHAMPIONS Dynamos began their hunt for a fifth consecutive Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title on a winning note as they took advantage of a poor Buffaloes at the National Sports Stadium in Harare yesterday. An own goal by wingback Kudzai Maramba, sandwiched by strikes from Simba Nhivi (formerly Sithole) and Walter Mukanga were enough to give Dynamos’ returning coach David “Yogi” Mandigora a perfect start to the campaign.
Buffaloes appeared to be still enjoying the off-season bliss and never threatened Artwell Mukandi in goals for the Glamour Boys.
The visitors were just conspicuously absent from the match and should be counting their lucky stars as the champions were not at their ruthless best otherwise they would have conceded an avalanche of goals.
Joseph Takaringofa who took charge of Buffaloes in the wake of Moses Chunga’s resignation admitted that his side was not up to the challenge.
“I am very disappointed the team never played football today. We gave Dynamos too much respect and this is what you get if you take such a casual approach. Dynamos did not do anything extraordinary but we literary gave it to them on a silver platter,’’ said Takaringofa.
“But we will try to correct our mistakes from our attitude, commitment and tactics. We will also have to add five more players to the current squad otherwise we might be heading for difficult times,” he added.
DeMbare, who had a couple of chances in early exchanges, surged into a deserved lead in the 11th minute when Nhivi capitalised on a defensive mix-up and rifled in a rising shot which beat goalkeeper Blessing Mwandimutsira for height.
Eight minutes later Mwaramba aided in an Oscar Machapa header off a corner kick taken by Ocean Mushure to double the advantage for the hosts.
Not even a two goal deficit could spur the army side into chasing the game.
Mukanga then slotted home a cross from Nhivi with eight minutes remaining to kill off the match as a contest.The midfielder celebrated his strike by signalling for the boo boys, who were beginning to latch on his back, to continue talking.
Mandigora conceded that DeMbare were not convincing.
“We were lucky to score those two early goals before going on to miss a number of chances . . . but it’s normal in football to miss chances. I am however, happy with the result but the performance did not please me. We will now have to quickly forget about this game and start focusing on our next match against Chapungu,” he said.
Teams
Dynamos: A Mukandi, S Linyama, A Mbara, G Murwira, O Mushure, S Alimenda, W Mukanga, R Chitiyo, Q Amini (F Mupasiri 84 min), S Nhivi (D Chungwa 83 min), O Machapa (K Bulaji 68 min)
Buffaloes: B Mwandimutsira, K Mwaramba, S Nyauzima, P Matizanadzo, J Jambo, S Nkatha, T Jeffrey, L Katongomara (F Banda 81 min), J Muzokomba, R Mwenga, R Dzumbunu (K Juwakinyu 55 min).
