Zimpapers Logo

Dynamos players celebrate the goal that sank Highlanders during yesterday’s match at the National Sports Stadium. – Picture by John Manzongo

Eddie Chikamhi Harare Bureau
Dynamos 1-0 Highlanders
WASHINGTON Pakamisa felt a huge load of pressure was taken off his back after he grabbed his first league goal of the season as Dynamos maintained their eight-year dominance over Highlanders at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.
Pakamisa, who had endured a frustrating first half of the season despite his vigorous work rate, finally got off the mark with a well struck effort when he                   controlled a ball from the middle to beat Highlanders goalkeeper Njabulo Nyoni with a powerful shot in the 34th minute.

The goal effectively halted Bosso’s proud run of 11 games unbeaten and denied the Bulawayo giants the chance to shoot back to the top.
Dynamos strikers usually get the stick for their wastefulness in front of goal and until their eleventh game yesterday only Anesu Gondo and Patrick Khumbula had found the target, sharing a paltry three goals between them while most of the goals were scored by non-strikers.

Pakamisa was a happy man yesterday as he had last celebrated a goal four months ago after scoring a brace to lead Dynamos to a 3-0 thrashing of Botswana side Mochudi Centre Chiefs at the giant stadium in the preliminary round of the Champions League.

“I am happy with the goal being my first this season and I hope the floodgates will open now. I have to keep working hard to get more goals going forward.
“It feels great because we were under pressure. At least it shows we are coming up as strikers because a few weeks ago when we played here one of the strikers was on target and today I scored as well.

“It relieves pressure. We were doing everything but it appears the final touch was lacking. Now that we have found the scoring touch we have to keep working hard,” said Pakamisa.

DeMbare enjoyed greater possession in the opening 45 minutes but the game was not flowing fluently after both coaches decided to congest the midfield.
However, the home team appeared to have the upper hand in the department where veteran Murape Murape, Stephen Alimenda and Devon Chafa who was coming from injury, appeared to be winning most of the midfield battles.

It was a game of two halves, though, as Highlanders came back from the breather charged up only for the lack of clearer scoring opportunities in the final third. Second-half substitute Valentine Ndaba, who came in for ineffective Kuda Mahachi helped raise the tempo in the last 20 minutes with good moves going                          forward.

The visitors were often let down by their defence as goalkeeper Nyoni, who was given a rare starting place, and his men at the back looked edgy and also struggled to deal with corner kicks.

Dynamos skipper Murape who keeps defying age, set the tone for the game early when he released Pakamisa on the right with only three minutes played.
However, the burly forward had one too many touches before he decided to square the ball into the box and by then the Highlanders defenders had awoken from their slumber to make a clearance.

Bosso keeper Nyoni was called to make a good save in the 15th minute when Ronald Chitiyo forced his way into the box and poked a low shot under tight marking which was parried out for a corner kick.

Highlanders responded almost instantly with a counter-attack and Artwell Mukandi did well to tip the ball over after Simon Munawa had unleashed a ferocious shot that was heading for the roof.

Pakamisa was almost gifted with an opportunity to double the advantage on the hour mark when Nyoni missed the ball completely after leaving his area to cover for his defenders but the angle was too narrow for the Dynamos forward.

Highlanders again have had to put up with the reality that they failed to break the jinx which has now extended to eight years. Bosso have not beaten Dynamos since 2006 when they last won the championship. Their midfielder Charles Sibanda, who is enjoying good form, said it was not their day as they fell for the first time this season.

“We played very well but we conceded a silly goal. It was their day. I think they prepared well for this game. It was unfortunate that we lost. It’s part of the game.
“It’s not the end of the road, there are many games coming up in the season. In football you win some and lose some. Today it wasn’t our day. We are now looking forward to win other games,” said Sibanda.

Teams
Dynamos – A Mukandi, B Moyo, O Mushure, P Jaure, T Ndhlovu, D Chafa, S Alimenda, M Murape (T Mabvura, 68th minute), R Chitiyo, W Pakamisa, A Gondo (S Sithole, 84th minute)
Highlanders – N Nyoni, E Mudzingwa, B Kangwa, I Mapuranga, D Ndlovu, S Munawa, W Ndiweni, J Ngodzo (K Mutizwa, 71st minute), K Mahachi (V Ndaba, 70th minute), G Nyoni (O Zibande, 56th minute), C Sibanda