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Onward Gangata in Gweru

TelOne 0-0 Dynamos

DYNAMOS coach Lloyd “MaBlanyo” Chigowe slammed TelOne for employing anti-football antics after the former champions were held to a goalless draw in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Bata Stadium yesterday.

The match had initially been scheduled to be played during mid-week but was shifted to yesterday.

This was done to allow the Harare giants more time to recover ahead of their Caf Confederations Cup second preliminary round against Orapa United next week.

And Chigowe was looking to fine tune his side in preparation for the all-important match in Botswana this coming Sunday.

He however, felt the tactics employed by the WiFi Boys were negative.

“We came here to play football, but there was no football to be play, our opponents even hid the balls and there was no match to be played.

“And their goalkeeper even started delaying in the first five minutes. Of course we should have taken our chances and that should have changed the complexion of the game.”

Chigowe was not holding back adding:

“This has become a culture of our football, this match is no exception, there are a number of teams that play like that.

“The funny thing is, if you are in the relegation zone you must fight for three points and not one, it can only be a one way ticket to hell or to heaven.”

TelOne coach, Hebert Maruwa defended his side’s approach to the match saying the important thing for him was to get something out of the match.

The result sees DeMbare move into seventh position on the log standings with 35 points while TelOne remain in the relegation waters in 15th place with 27 points. 

The match got off at a snail’s pace with neither team taking full control of proceedings, although the hosts were physical.

Dynamos managed to settle first and started to dictate the pace and came close to scoring with Tanaka Shandirwa’s shot from distance slightly going wide.

It was TelOne however, who got the best chance of the half after 28 minutes when Washington Navaya dribbled past the DeMbare defence but his resultant shot was saved by Martin Mapisa in goal for the Harare side.

Moments after the break Nomore Chinyerere almost gave DeMbare the lead with a blistering effort that hit the side netting after he was set up by Elvis Moyo.

A minute later TelOne goalkeeper Chris Mverechena nearly gifted the visitors with a goal when he fumbled a Tendaishe Magwaza cross only for TelOne captain, Trust Nyabinde to head the ball to safety.

Having weathered a Dynamos onslaught, the WiFi Boys crawled their way back into the match and were comfortable with the Harare giants having possession in wide areas.

DeMbare could have won it in added time after a swift counter attack resulted in substitute Valentine Kadonzvo sending a dangerous cross that was pummelled to safety by Mverechena.

Meanwhile, at Mutare’s Sakubva Stadium, Ray Bande writes that Manica Diamonds edged visiting and struggling Bulawayo side Arenel Movers 2-1.

The hosts heaved a huge sigh of relief in this pulsating Castle Lager Premiership match after collecting maximum points.

Coach Jairos Tapera’s men secured victory even though they were far from convincing, especially in their conversion rate.

The hosts secured the lead in the 17th minute through a goalmouth melee in which Dynamos reject Tawanda Macheka tapped home from close range to give Manica Diamonds the lead.

The Gem Boys were to shine again in the 33rd minute when exciting midfielder Anelka Chivandire connected a cross from workaholic Gift Bero to extend Manica Diamonds’ lead.

Arenel Movers pulled one back in the 50th minute, thanks to ageing Pasca Manhanga’s lethargic approach that led him to lose possession in the middle of the park and the visitors suddenly went on a counter attack that ended with Toto Banda slotting the ball home to give the Premiership basement outfit some semblance of hope in this encounter.

Tapera believes this is the start of a positive change of fortunes for his team after a lengthy period of not only failing to win but also firing blanks.

His opposite number Philani “Beefy” Ncube remained stubborn insisting that his team still has a chance to survive relegation.

Teams

TelOne: C Mverechena, T Nyabinde, T Jaravani,E Mafirenyika, A Chapinduka, L Hofisi (F Bushiri 59th minute), X Moyo, K Jaison, T Sibanda (H Chikosa 37th minute), N Masilela (L Gwerina 70th minute), W Navaya (F Muza70th minute)

Dynamos: M Mapisa, T Magwaza (F Alick 71st minute), E Moyo, D Dzvinyai, F Makarati, S Nyahwa, A Mandinyenya (K Madera 46th minute), D Mudadi (V Kadonzvo 71st minute), T Shandirwa (E Ziocha 86th minute), N Chinyerere, E Paga (E Ilunga 86th minute)i