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handed Premiership newboys Quelaton a heavy pre-season loss at Ascot Stadium yesterday.
If anything, the talking point would be the continued “soccer fans apathy” in the city as just under 1000 fans turned up for the widely advertised match – a slap in the face for a serious would-be investor in a Premier Soccer League outfit in Gweru.
Nonetheless this was not enough to dampen a brave Kwela Kwela first half showing in which with sheer luck they could have broken the ice against their much-fancied opponents.
Even the Callisto Pasuwa-led technical team were the first to admit that they were stretched to the limit. “I usually do not comment about other people’s jobs and other people’s teams but they are a good side and mark my words it was only fitness that affected them. Look at how they matched us in the opening half,” said Tonderai Ndiraya a Dynamos assistant coach.
It needed a six-men change in the second half for DeMbare to gain control.
Immediately after, the Harare giants went on song grabbing six goals in half an hour to hand the baptism certificate to the 2011 Southern Region Division One champions.
In the 59th minute, a perfect and entertaining exchange between Thomas Magorimbo and Denver Mukamba set loose Chitora who obliged with a perfect strike to spark the Zora Butter celebration from the terraces.
Quelaton tried as much to re-organise but when the Dynamos machine gets oiled nothing can stop it from the perfect work.
In 71st minute, Mukamba set up Magorimbo on the run who drilled a grounder for the second and eight minutes later Chitora completed his brace with a perfect strike from close range.
Then it was time for Mukamba to add his name on the scoresheet with the fourth on the 82nd minute before leaving the scoring show to Rodrick Mutuma.
The 2011 Golden Boot award winner who failed the test at Super Diski side Ajax Cape Town where he was on trial added the icing in the 84th and 89th minutes for the half a dozen goal count.
Ndiraya admitted DeMbare are not yet perfect but almost 30 percent towards full throttle with the players almost 45 percent fit.
“We are still working on a lot of things since we only started preparations last week but I can say so far its good enough ahead of the Bob Cup tie against Hwange. We are almost 30 percent overall while the players are almost 45 percent fit,” said Ndiraya.
On Chitora’s performance, Ndiraya said it was good for him to grab a brace on his debut.
“For any player to score a brace on his Dynamos debut it is good for him and I am happy for him. He has given us options upfront after we roped him in as a direct replacement for Murape Murape who had hinted on retiring but we will sit down and discuss the other options,” said Ndiraya.
Quelaton promotion winning coach Thulani Sibanda said his team was a “work in progress” but was happy they held on for 59 minutes.
“We only began preparations last week and obviously we are not there yet. It is still work in progress but we have learnt our lessons,” said Sibanda.
Quelaton players seemed to have gone into a panic mode after conceding the first goal.