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HIGH TACKLE . . . Dynamos’ double scorer Anesu Gondo (left) tussles for the ball with Harare City’s Arnold Chivheya during yesterday’s match at the National Sports Stadium

Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reports
Dynamos ….. (1)3
Harare City…(1)1
DYNAMOS new boy Anesu Gondo fired his first goals for the Glamour Boys when he grabbed a brace as the Castle Lager Premiership champions finally remembered how to win at home. Since their switch from Rufaro to the National Sports Stadium, Dynamos had endured nightmarish moments failing to win at the giant facility in both the Champions League and domestic assignments.

DeMbare yesterday welcomed the team they pipped for the championship on the final day of the season last year — Harare City — and by the time tall Harare referee Nomore Musundire blew to end the match it was the champions who were celebrating and had yet compounded the Sunshine Boys’ woes.

Although they raced into a fourth minute lead, it was actually Dynamos who needed to soak the early pressure from their opponents before arm-twisting under-pressure coach Bigboy Mawiwi’s side into submission later in the second half, with substitute Walter Mukanga killing off the game in the 81st minute.

That victory, their first at home and third in four games saw Dynamos shoot to the top of the table for the first time this year.
But on an afternoon which was characterised by rains in the capital, it was Gondo was left with the biggest of smiles after endearing himself to the DeMbare faithful with his brace.

Gondo arrived at Dynamos a virtual unknown entity despite having played for the now defunct Tripple B and Extension Gunners in Botswana.
The robust forward had however, always shown some promise and yesterday he gave his coach Callisto Pasuwa what he has been crying for — goals.

Pasuwa was increasingly getting worried with his strikers’ form after the forwards had fired blanks in 270 minutes of league action in their opening three league matches.

The three-time championship winning coach was also keen to see his team start picking maximum points at home as they had not managed to win at the giant facility in local competitions since they relocated from Rufaro at the beginning of the season.

The DeMbare players yesterday responded positively and it took the stocky forward only four minutes to register his name on the score-sheet before returning to restore DeMbare’s lead with a 74th minute strike after Nathan Ziwini had cancelled out the hosts opener in the 13th minute.
Gondo, who missed the first two Premiership matches against How Mine and ZPC Kariba before getting his chance last week in the 3-1 win at Bantu Rovers where he played the whole match, repaid the faith shown in him by his coach when he was given another starting place ahead of Patrick Khumbula, Simba Sithole and Farai Mupasiri.

The former Tripple B man headed Dynamos into the lead when he rose to plant a firm header from a corner kick taken on the left flank by Thomas Magorimbo.

However, it did not take long before Harare City restored parity through their inspirational captain of the day, Ziwini. City also hit back from a set-piece, after getting a free-kick wide on the right when Tafadzwa Rusike fouled Martin Vengesai.

Ziwini found himself virtually unmarked and reacted swiftly as he placed the ball beyond the reach of the goalkeeper after pouncing onto the free-kick which had been dropped inside the box by Munyaradzi Nyenye.

From then on it was anyone’s game as both teams came close with some good chances but the scores remained level at half-time.
Ziwini, Vengesai and Crybert Muvuti saw most of the ball for City while Tafadzwa Rusike, Stephen Alimenda, Washington Pakamisa and Gondo had a good day in the office for the champions. DeMbare midfielders Ronald Chitiyo and Devon Chafa struggled with their game and their coach had to pull them out in the second half and replacing them with Mukanga and Russel Madamombe.

Pakamisa’s work rate was excellent although most of the times he would run out of ideas when in possession of the ball. City, however, looked more threatening going forward as Dynamos relied on occasionally pumping long balls upfront where the twin strikers Pakamisa and Gondo were doing well to keep possession.

Vengesai’s shot almost deceived the Dynamos goalkeeper when it took a deflection off a City player and bounced off the woodwork just two minutes after they had found the equaliser.

William Manondo then forced a good save from Mukandi who did well to tip the ball over the cross bar in the 21st minute as the visitors appeared determined to get their first point from the defending champions, after losing their opening three matches of the season. But City collapsed in the last 15 minutes of the game when Gondo powered his way past two defenders, Arnold  Chivheya and Crispen Dickson, and placed the ball to the left of advancing goalkeeper for his second goal.

Mukanga then put the game beyond reach when he raced down the right channel to meet a through ball which he fired into the bottom corner, just as Mawiwi was about to make a double substitution in a bid to rescue the match. This was City’s fourth defeat in a row as they remained trapped at the bottom of the log table with pressure now mounting on coach to turn around the fortunes of the club.

TEAMS:
Dynamos: A. Mukandi, T. Magorimbo, A. Mbara, P. Jaure, T. Ndlovu, S. Alimenda, D. Chafa (W. Mukanga, 51st minute), R. Chitiyo (R. Madamombe, 70th minute), T. Rusike (B. Amidu, 87th minute), A. Gondo, W. Pakamisa.

Harare City: J. Nomore, M. Nyenye, T. Chiworeso, C. Dickson, A. Chivheya, J. Jam, W. Manondo, N. Ziwini, M. Vengesai (O. Mukuradare, 84th minute), C. Muvuti (M. Mburayi, 53rd minute), P. Bhamusi (T. Chawapiwa, 83rd minute)