The Sunday News
Langton Nyakwenda
Mushowani Stars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
Dynamos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
“YOU haven’t seen nothing yet,” declared Congolese red hot striker Ngandu Mangala soon after his brilliant brace powered Dynamos to their first win in an opening league fixture since 2015.
The 25-year-old dreadlocked striker, who revealed that he would prefer to play for Zimbabwe instead of DR Congo his motherland, lit up Rufaro yesterday with two well struck second half goals.
Mangala who played Division One football with Green Fuel last season, made a grand arrival into the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League and earned himself some dollars from ecstatic Dynamos fans soon after the match.
“I spoke about my intentions before the season started, this was the first game of the season and magetsi haasati atanga.
“Those (goals) were just some highlights,” said Mangala who, however, finished the last two minutes on the sidelines after suffering an ankle injury.
He scored his first in the 65th minute and what a beauty it was.
With Dynamos struggling to assert themselves against impressive Mushowani Stars, who played like an established PSL team especially in the first half, Mangala took the matters into his hands.
Mushowani Stars’ workaholic linkman Blessing Phiri lost possession at the edge of the box, DeMbare substitute Moffat Try Adre fed Mangala and the Congolese let fly a thunderbolt that nestled into the top left corner of Admire Masuku’s goal.
Mangala showed a hustler that he is in the second one, scored four minutes from time when he bullied the Mushowani defenders before volleying a left footer into the roof of the net.
“I can’t talk about how many goals I will score this season, only God knows. But what I am sure of is I will make Dynamos fans happy,” said Mangala.
Before joining Dynamos in the pre-season, Mangala played for Banana Express in Chipinge, Ruwa United, Prime Rangers and Green Fuel.
He was born in DR Congo and came to Zimbabwe in 2010. The talented forward has fallen in love with Zimbabwe and says he will prefer to play for the Warriors, rather than DR Congo, should a national team call come up.
“I prefer to play for Zimbabwe, I came here in 2010 and I like this country,” said Mangala who chose to speak in Shona during this post-match interview.
Dynamos coach Lloyd Chigowe, who became the first DeMbare gaffer to win an opening league fixture since 2015, describes Mangala as unpredictable.
“Mangala is a talent, he is unpredictable,” said Chigowe.
DeMbare were outclassed by a compact Mushowani Stars who are coached by the unheralded Newman Mashipe.
It took Chigowe’s half-time pep talk to lift a below par DeMbare before Mangala struck twice in the last 25 minutes of the match.
“The performance was not up to scratch but three points in the bag is vital. We missed three or four key players.
“We did not play well in the first half and during half-time we reminded the players that we were Dynamos and as such we should not be bullied by new boys Mushowani in our own home,” said Chigowe.
Skipper Edward Sadomba missed the match due to injury while the Cameroonian duo of Herve Mbega and Ngahan Claude Junior were sidelined as their immigration papers are yet to be sorted out.
“Dynamos usually struggle to win the first match of the season but we changed that. But this is a marathon we need to keep working hard,” noted Chigowe.
Mushowani Stars coach Mashipe blamed his team’s loss on poor concentration levels before hailing Dynamos as “a big institution.”
“We lost concentration towards the end of the game but I am happy with our performance.
“We showed a lot of character in front of the strong Dynamos crowd,” said Mashipe.
Mushowani Stars played their home game at Rufaro because their venue Trojan is yet to be cleared by the Zifa First Instance Board.
Teams
Mushowani Stars: A. Masuku, C. Muvuti, S. Savare, M. Doley, C. Nyakope, W. Tafa, C. Dzingayi, B. Phiri (Chikwerengwe 80 mins), D. Kamanga (Kapikinyu 64 mins), P. Chiramba (Thulani 52 mins), E. Katema.
Dynamos: S. Chinani, E. Jalai (Mhungu 71 mins),
M. Chipo, M. Mawadza, J. Tigere, G. Mukambi,
K. Dhemere (M. Try Ade 47), T. Chisi, T. Macheke (A. Maliselo 80), N. Mangala.
