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Bothwell Mahlengwe
THE last three games played by Dynamos in the league have proved that there is still good competition in the domestic Premiership.

I had thought the Harare Derby and the Battle of Zimbabwe were losing their spark because of DeMbare’s long dominance.

It is commendable that CAPS United and Highlanders did very well to preserve the value and stature of these big match.

Although Highlanders did not win against Dynamos, they played very well, and to some extent that game determined the outcome of the Harare Derby last Sunday.

DeMbare lost three key players through suspensions, Christian Ntouba was red carded and it can also be argued that Denver Mukamba’s poor show in that game could have led to him losing his way again and missing the derby.

For Bosso to fight from behind and force a draw was beautiful to watch.

This was a point which carried its weight in gold.

In the derby, CAPS showed more hunger for points than Dynamos and Lloyd Chitembwe came out as the better tactician on the day with the way he exploited Dynamos’ weaknesses, especially in the middle of the park.

Dynamos central midfield hasn’t been clicking of late and the pair of Tichaona Chipunza and Saunyama were overrun by Devon Chafa and Tafadzwa Rusike in the first Harare Derby.

Chitembwe made tactical changes for the return leg, bringing in underrated but talented and effective Moses Muchenje to partner Devon Chafa in central midfield.

Moving Hardlife Zvirekwi into right attacking midfield was a master stroke.

It didn’t only save Zvirekwi from roasting by the in-form Dynamos winger Cleopas Kapupurika but it also exposed his strengths in his play going forward.

His composure, passing, dribbling and crossing were a thorn for Dynamos to an extent that he was my man-of-the-match.

His replacement Kudzi Nyamupfukudza matched Kapupurika toe-for-toe cutting out the Dynamos supply line. Even when Ocean Mushure exchanged positions with Kapupurika, Nyamukudza stood resolute making his claim for regular start on the right wingback stronger than before.

What Chitembwe got right went terribly wrong for Lloyd Mutasa.

Not only did he get it wrong in the central midfield where the continued fielding of Saunyama remains questionable, his choice of twin strikers backfired as well.

The use of Ocean Mushure as of midfielder seems to be taking its toll on the player’s ageing legs.

Although he has been doing considerably well in that position, the distance he has been covering has left him exhausted, and evidently he couldn’t last the distance in the last two games.

Also exposed was the quality, or lack of it, of the Dynamos depth. Clearly, the quartet of Zvasiya, Ntouba, Chipunza and Mukamba was too much a miss for them.

Another eyesore was the despicable acts of juju Dynamos displayed on the day. Half-time exchanges between the Dynamos manager and captain during Ocean Mushure’s Player of the Month award presentation shouldn’t be done that openly.

It doesn’t have a place in the modern game. It negates all the effort that coaches and players put in training and rather than have an effect on opposition it usually backfires badly.

I want to thank CAPS United and Highlanders for bringing their A game to the big games.

It is clear that the results from Dynamos’ last three games have not only made the league title race a four-horse race but competitive as well.

It may be debatable that a Dynamos six-point log lead would have put the title race beyond many if not all.

It is not every day that Dynamos lose the championship when they open a six-point gap especially after more than two thirds of the league games played.

We still have a hell of a show to watch – thanks to CAPS United and Highlanders.

 Bothwell Mahlengwe is a banker and former Premiership footballer and can be contacted, for feedback, on the email – [email protected].