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Augustine Mbara

Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
DYNAMOS captain Augustine Mbara says the Glamour Boys’ win over bitter rivals Highlanders should spur them on as they look to turn around their campaign in the second half of the season with hopes of winning a fifth consecutive league title this year.

The Glamour Boys emerged winners in an exciting match at Rufaro on Sunday to extend their unbeaten record against Highlanders to 17 league games. Mbara admitted Bosso gave them a good run for their money, especially with their second half dominance, when DeMbare were made to chase the ball for the remainder of the game.

Midfielder Ronald Chitiyo scored a brace in the first half but Knox Mutizwa brought Highlanders back in the game with his own double.

However, Qadr Amini scored the decisive goal with 15 minutes of regulation time remaining.

Highlanders have not beaten Dynamos since 2006 but on Sunday they felt they deserved, at least, a point when the match officials ruled out what appeared a genuine equaliser by Edmore Chirambadare on the 80th minute.

Mbara said the Harare giants are looking to build on the positives from the match. DeMbare had lost considerable ground in the championship race after drawing their last three assignments before the league break, which ended at the weekend.

“The game was very tough. This was the first match after the long break so consistency is needed going forward. Highlanders came and gave us stiff competition but the important thing is we won the match.

“I just hope we continue from there in our coming assignments.

“We know we will go to Barbourfields for the return leg in the coming days so it’s important to go back to the drawing board to correct our mistakes from this game.

“The games that are coming are not going to be easy. We need to stand up and try to win the remaining matches. The league race is still on and we are looking to retain it,” said Mbara.

Sunday’s win was also a big relief for DeMbare coach David Mandigora who had dropped points in the drawn matches against Tsholotsho, Triangle and ZPC Kariba.

That effectively meant pressure was mounting as he missed the 30-point mark that was set by his bosses for the first half of the season.

However, the three-week league break managed to buy him time and somehow subside the pressure. Dynamos chairman Kenny Mubaiwa said the DeMbare leadership have always rallied behind the coach.

“The problem is that the DeMbare family never accepted this coach and always make noise whenever results don’t go our way. But we want to give him time and support,” said Mubaiwa.

DeMbare remained third on the log standings with 26 points from 14 games. Log leaders Chicken Inn could not increase their lead at the top of the table after their match against bottom of the table side Dongo Sawmill at Luveve was abandoned.

The Gamecocks were leading 1-0 with an hour of football having been played when Dongo walked out following a violent assault on their medic by the Chicken Inn goalkeepers’ coach Njabulo Nyoni.

Chicken Inn have 29 points to their credit and the fate of their abandoned match will be decided by the PSL. Dongo Sawmill assistant coach Dananai Chinowawa said they could not continue with the match because they felt insecure.

Second-placed Triangle remained in the hunt with a 1-0 win over ZPC Kariba at Gibbo on Sunday to take their points tally to 27.

But FC Platinum were the biggest winners at the weekend with their 4-1 thumping of Buffaloes which lifted them three places up the ladder into sixth position.