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Eddie Chikamhi, Harare Bureau
Herentals. 1 – 0 Dynamos

DYNAMOS coach Tonderai Ndiraya was left devastated after yet another pathetic display by his charges in a disappointing Castle Lager Premiership match defeat to Herentals at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.

The Harare giants fell to a 43rd minute strike by enterprising Herentals midfielder Prince Chama.

Yesterday’s defeat meant they have collected one point in their last three matches. This has come as a huge blow to their quest for a top two finish, after going down three points to Chicken Inn ahead of the final round of league matches.

With the league race already won by FC Platinum two weeks ago, Dynamos were hoping for a consolation by nailing second spot.

But DeMbare have not been smart enough as they dropped two points in the home draw against Highlanders last week. This was preceded by a 1-0 defeat to relegation fighters Bulawayo City.

They still had an opportunity to go into the final round on second position, on account of a better goal difference, but Ndiraya admitted the Glamour Boys were off colour yesterday and paid dearly for the pedestrian approach.

“We had a very disappointing first-half,” he said.

“We played below par, we were not interested at all, we were casual, there was no urgency in our play but after the breather I thought we came back energised. We pushed forward for the equaliser but we couldn’t get one.

“I am disappointed that last week we played well despite getting a draw (against Highlanders) at home. I thought we were going to replicate the same performance but we couldn’t.

“We have not been consistent in the last three games and that has come at a very difficult time, towards the end of the season. So I am extremely disappointed by the result,” said Ndiraya.

The Glamour Boys failed to get a shot on target in the first-half. Apart from a rising shot from Emmanuel Jalai that zoomed wide after 38 minutes, there was nothing much to write home about for both sides.

Herentals were also struggling to get clear cut chances but then Tino Benza missed a header from a cross by Chama in the 41st minute.

The Students still had time to get things right, with Benza turning the provider with a beautiful cross on the right and Chama could not make a mistake with a close range header that went past goalkeeper Taimon Mvula.

The senior Benza, Innocent, also started the match but was taken out in a 52nd minute substitution made by coach Kumbirai Mutiwekuziva in a bid to safeguard their goal.

Herentals’ 19-year-old goalkeeper Takudzwa Chikosi made a good save to deny Frank Makarati from a headed effort soon after the restart.

The Students remained resolute in defence of their first-half gains and they also performed every trick in their bag to frustrate the Harare giants, with the help of their ball boys, who slowed down the game through unorthodox delaying tactics.

This did not go down well with the DeMbare fans in the Vietnam Bay who responded by hurling a couple of missiles targeting the nearest ball boys, who then fled their stations, and the Dynamos players and marshals ended up picking up the balls themselves.

Dynamos were still hopeful though and they threw more men forward in search of an equaliser with Emmanuel Paga, Alex Orotomal, Evans Katema and Ralp Kawondera all getting as second half substitutes.

“Despite pushing numbers forward in search of a goal in the second half, we then played perhaps about 25 minutes of the 45 minutes. No balls, no ball boys and the players ended up picking the balls themselves and I thought it was a strategy for the opponent to disturb our rhythm but it’s something that we don’t expect at this level of the game. But well done to them, they took their chance and managed the game until the end,” said Ndiraya.

Dynamos remained third on the table with 57 points, three behind Chicken Inn who played a goalless draw with Yadah last Friday.

Herentals rose two places to seventh with 48 points and their coach Mutiwekuziva was happy with the points, as his team recovered from last week’s 2-1 defeat to Bulawayo Chiefs.

Although he could not pick much from yesterday’s win, Mutiwekuziva said the victory was key as a confidence booster they prepare for the Chibuku Super Cup finals against Chiefs in two weeks’ time.

“It’s good to bounce back from the defeat at Bulawayo Chiefs last week. Bouncing back against Dynamos means a lot to us. We are using these games in preparation for the Chibuku Super Cup final against Chiefs again in Bulawayo.

“So I am happy with the win, it restores confidence into the camp. It wasn’t an easy game. There was a lot of crude tackles, which characterises derbies.

“It had nothing much to talk about in terms of excitement and flow of the game but we managed to get the win under the difficult conditions. The players had confidence taking on Dynamos and I am quite happy with our performance, particularly with the Chibuku Super Cup final in mind,” said Mutiwekuziva.

Teams

Dynamos: T Mvula, E Jalai, B Mpofu (L Musikiri, 82nd minute), P Jaure, F Makarati, K Murera, J Makunike, K Nadolo (R Kawondera, 70th minute), M Ofori (A Orotomal, 52nd minute), I Sadiki (E Katema, 70th minute), T Makanda (E. Paga, 52nd minute).

Herentals: T Chikosi, W Chimbetu, B Majarira, L Ruguchu, W Kapumha, P Chama, G Mukambi, D Chimwemwe (C. Mujuru, 64th minute), T Benza (D. Marowa, 82nd minute), I Benza (A. Maliselo, 52nd minute), A Majarira, (Blessing Majarira, 64th minute)