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Murape Murape

Bulawayo Bureau
FOR the umpteenth time the Murape Murape factor came to haunt one of the Castle Lager Premier League giants.
He was introduced in the 38th minute at Barbourfields on Saturday and made the desired impact in the game.A prominent Dynamos supporter, Ellington Galimoto, a manager at the city airport, says Highlanders will struggle to beat Dynamos because its players lack the big match temperament that Dynamos’ have in abundance. Bosso have not beaten Dynamos in a league match in eight years.

Successive coaches have come and gone and all have failed to find a solution to that streak of mediocrity.

“Bosso are a good team. They have good players but how to be woven into a unit is what they seem to lack,” said Galimoto.

“Against DeMbare they played well and had us on the back foot for a while especially in the first half were they created more chances than us.”

Dominance of the exchanges, he said, was not good enough.

“It’s goals that count, they at times do not show that hunger for results and that tends to be the difference.”

Kelvin Kaindu started with two defensive links, a move that appeared to work for him with two creative midfielders Joel Ngodzo and Pasca Manhanga while Charles Sibanda and Njabulo Ncube were given the task of spearheading the attack.

Dynamos’ Callisto Pasuwa pulled out his Congolese import Fabrice Mbimba in the 38th minute for Murape and everything changed.

All of a sudden Dynamos played with vigour and purpose while Kaindu’s substitutes did little to save the situation for the home team.

“It boils down to ChaMurape, the Murape factor. His mere presence on the field lifts everyone in the team, including the fans,” said Galimoto.

“He is DeMbare through and through and he knows what it means to the fans to beat CAPS and Highlanders.  He plays his heart out and yesterday was no exception, he drives the team.”

He said Highlanders no longer had players like Douglas Mloyi, Madinda Ndlovu, Zenzo Moyo, the late Mercedes Sibanda, Thulani Ncube and Honour Gombami.

“Madinda would take it upon his shoulders and say it’s about time Bosso turned the tide in its favour in a match and produce wonders.  Douglas would defend like a man possessed, Bosso are good but lack that ingredient and for as long as their boys lack character and the big match temperament, we will always beat them,” said Galimoto.