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promises so much for the future, it was ironic that Dynamos’ first Castle Lager Premiership win should be built around the silky skills of ageless skipper Desmond Maringwa.
The veteran midfielder, who turns 34 on June 30 this year, has been overshadowed by a battery of youthful teammates – especially Archford Gutu and Denver Mukamba – who have hogged all the limelight since the new season opened.
On Sunday, as the Glamour Boys crashed to a 0-2 defeat at the hands of champions Motor Action at Rufaro, Maringwa didn’t even play the match, spending the entire 90 minutes rooted to his place on the substitutes’ bench.
Yesterday, with Gutu and Mukamba unavailable for selection because of Young Warriors’ commitments in the All-Africa Games qualifiers in Botswana tomorrow, Maringwa was thrown back into the starting XI in the showdown against moneybags FC Platinum.
And the veteran midfielder turned on the show, with a performance that was as rich in quality as it was decisive in swinging the game in his team’s favour, as the Glamour Boys finally celebrated their maiden victory in the 2011 Castle Lager Premiership campaign.
Where Dynamos had lacked a leader in midfield, during their defeat against the Mighty Bulls, Maringwa gave them a commander yesterday who led by example, controlling the key department and dictating its rhythm as, for the first time in a league match this year, DeMbare finally found their heart.
Where Dynamos had cried for a guide in midfield, as they buckled under the weight of expectation against Motor Action, Maringwa provided the light yesterday with a classy act that gave his team the shape, and cutting edge, they badly needed to win this crucial battle.
Where Dynamos had searched for a touch of class in midfield, as they struggled to handle the pressure exerted by Allan Gahadzikwa and company in the colours of the Mighty Bulls, Maringwa gave them that magical presence everyone needed to feed from and find the confidence to face, and ultimately, defeat the opponents.
This was by no means his best performance in the service of the only football club he has known in his life but, given the context of the pressure situation and the strength of the opponents, it was as good as he will possibly perform this season.
Maringwa was irresistible in the first half, controlling the midfield with authority and a touch of finesse, and while he drifted out of the game for a big chunk of the second half, he returned with a bang in the closing stages and capped it all with a beauty of a killer goal.
As early as the seventh minute, Maringwa had made a decisive contribution in the game, squeezing a superb pass through the FC Platinum defence that freed the speedy and hyper-active Martin Vengesayi who suddenly found himself with only the goalkeeper to beat.
Vengesayi’s touch, to just guide the ball beyond the advancing goalkeeper, was a good one and, as the ball rolled into the nets, Vietnam erupted into the kind of goal celebrations befitting a group that had waited for 187 minutes of league action for such a moment.
Having delivered the first blow, Dynamos went about their mission, to control the game, with a business touch, where Maringwa was the fulcrum of every move, and he showed his fine range of skills, midway in the first half, with a lovely control and superb flick that made a fool of Bekhi Ncube.
Even though he was under pressure, close to the centre line on the outskirts of the right channel, Maringwa cooled the ball with a touch of brilliance, feigned a move and then flicked the ball over the giant Ncube who, bemused by the magic of the trick, could do little but stop the move with his hand.
That one move summed up the midfield battle yesterday and, in a big way, defined the winners and the losers.
After the interval, Maringwa faded out of the picture and FC Platinum appeared to take control of the midfield but Dynamos remained dangerous on the break and, with Vengesayi and an impressive Rodrick Mutuma striking a good partnership, the visitors were living dangerously even though they were winning the possession stakes.
Rufaro remained restless, as long as the scoreline stayed 1-0, and with Norman Maroto being thrown in by the visitors, as they searched for the goal they badly wanted, the levels of concern certainly rose a notch higher inside the stadium.
But, with a minute left in regulation time, Maringwa was there to provide Dynamos with the insurance goal they needed to kill off this match and, personally for the veteran, complete a great day at the office.
David Kutyauripo’s pass released Patrick Khumbula down the right channel and the substitute, who impres-sed yesterday, worked his way to the byline before drawing the ball back inside the area and Maringwa, still with the energy to provide reinforcement in attack even at 33, swept the ball home with the confidence of a leader.
Lloyd Mutasa released all the emotions that had been bottled in his diminutive frame, in a horror fortnight that started with the mauling in Algiers, and was followed by the defeat at the hands of the champions, as the Dynamos party began in earnest.
Having been questioned by Vietnam, when he hauled off Mutuma for Khumbula, Mutasa was clearly vindicated for his technical masterstroke as the substitute upped the tempo of the game with a direct approach that kept the FC Platinum rearguard in its defensive section.
Crucially, Khumbula also provided the cross that Maringwa turned home for the killer goal.
This was certainly not vintage Dynamos stuff but they were solid in defence, vibrant in attack and, crucially, they had a leader in midfield who supplied the oxygen that sustained their challenge and, deservedly, pushed them to a win their performance merited.
Someone will have to spare a thought for Benjamin Marere who was given a rough treatment by the Dynamos fans, on his return to Rufaro, booed at every touch he just could bare finally found their touch, noone cared for the winger as the place he used to call home turned into hell.