Zimpapers Logo

CHAMPAGNE TIME . . . Dynamos players pop a bottle of champagne as they celebrate yet another championship title at the National Sports Stadium yesterday

Petros Kausiyo Deputy Sports Editor—
A TEARFUL Callisto Pasuwa etched his name into immortality as he guided Dynamos to an unprecedented fourth straight Castle Lager Premiership title and a new personal milestone on his swansong league assignment as the Glamour Boys powered their way to glory at the National Sports Stadium yesterday. Pasuwa, who is leaving Dynamos at the expiry of his contract next month, fired his last salvo in the league with a hard-fought victory on a dramatic final day of the 2014 season that left leaders ZPC Kariba stunned in disbelief as they slumped to a 3-2 defeat by CAPS United at Gwanzura and with it the title, that had seemed destined for their trophy cabinet in the run-up to the Super Sunday fixtures.

Despite Dynamos skipper Murape Murape insisting earlier in the week that DeMbare would fight to the bitter end, the Harare giants still recorded their worst home attendance with about 4 000 fans at the giant facility.

The majority of their fans either chose to stay at home or went and became strange bedfellows with their CAPS United counterparts and rooted for the Green Machine at Gwanzura.

There was a sizeable chunk of DeMbare fans at Gwanzura, a rare site, especially considering that their team was involved in action across town at the National Sports Stadium. But there was no doubting that the spotlight was also on Pasuwa after the coach revealed exclusively to The Saturday Herald that he would leave his job irrespective of whether he had won the league or not.

DeMbare fans celebrate: Play the video below

With a dramatic loss of form in their previous three assignments and injuries ravaging his team and limiting Pasuwa’s selection options, it all pointed to bookmakers’ favourites ZPC Kariba riding on their form and claiming the title on their maiden dance with the Premiership.

However, as has often been proven in this game, nothing is guaranteed until the final whistle and Pasuwa’s somewhat second-string side calmed their nerves when they took the lead via Russell Madamombe before skipper Murape Murape played a true captain’s role in finding the insurance goal just a minute from regulation time.

As the Dynamos fans burst into song and dance after the final whistle had been blown and confirmation had come from Gwanzura that CAPS United had silenced ZPC Kariba 3-2 Pasuwa, who had been standing on the touchline all afternoon, slumped into his seat on the technical bench and struggled to hold back the tears and the emotions as the rest of the team joined their fans in delirium.

When it was time to face the media, an emotional Pasuwa reiterated that he would leave at the expiry of his contract and that winning the fourth title would not sway his mind.

Pasuwa described this year’s championship as a bitter-sweet title that he would also reflect on for a very long time.
“It has been a very tough afternoon and a very tough season but I said it on Friday that championship or no championship, I will not change my mind about giving the chance to someone else to coach Dynamos. Personally I think I need to sit down and revisit my career.

“Yes it is four out of four and that is great but I think for the club to wait for the championship before deciding on me shows they have always had other ideas . . . Zvakafanana nekuudza mukadzi wako wauine vana naye kuti atange aita mumwe mwana wozobhadhara pfuma yake (it’s like asking your wife with whom you have kids to give birth to another child before you can decide to pay lobola for her),’’ Pasuwa said.

The Dynamos coach sprung some surprises when he recalled forgotten midfielder Milton Makopa, and handed rare starts to fringe players like Elisha Muroyiwa, Tichaona Mabvura and Farai Mupasiri, ahead of players such as Ronald Chitiyo, Tawanda Muparati, Oscar Machapa and Thomas Magorimbo.
Makopa, who has barely seen action for the last two seasons because of injuries, rewarded the coach with a man of the match show in a midfield holding role while Madamombe, whose term has been blighted by injuries, also had a fine afternoon while the inspirational Murape never stopped running and was duly rewarded by a late goal.

Pasuwa, who now has a legendary status at Dynamos, having delivered four championships in 101 matches, also paid tribute to his charges for their commitment and reckoned that Makopa was an example “that patience and hard work pay’’. After setting the record of becoming the first coach to win three successive Premiership titles last year, Pasuwa scaled new heights with the 2014 title that set a hard act to follow for local coaches.

Dynamos might not have put up one of their best of performances and even How Mine coach Luke Masomere felt they were lucky to win yesterday but for Pasuwa, what mattered most was the result that ensured they would seal the championship if the outcome from Gwanzura went in their favour as it did.
“We had a different team today but what was important was to keep our shape in defence, be cautious and try to take as many of our chances as possible.
“It was unfortunate that this year we have not won as many games at home as we did away but we need to continue encouraging these youngsters because Dynamos is like a pressure cooker but we need to be patient with youngsters like Blessing Moyo and Tatenda Mukuruva and give them a chance’’.

While his coach hardly resembled a man who had re-written his own history, Murape was over the moon as he led his players into song and dance both on the pitch and in the dressing room as well as on the victory lap after they had been handed the trophy. “We are ecstatic and we would like to give thanks to the Almighty . . . we trusted in the Lord and that he would give us the powers to conquer.

“Most people wrote us off when we lost to ZPC but like I said, the league is won after 30 games and our unity and determination paid off. We have been getting a lot of support and encouragement from our patron Webster Shamu,’’ Murape said.
Murape also reckoned that his experience had been key in yesterday’s battle against How Mine.

“The coach had belief in me and tasked me to go out there and push the team for a good result and I am also happy to have lived up to the prediction of my five kids who had been telling me all week that they felt I would score three goals but unfortunately I managed just one,’’ Murape said.