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HANDS OFF . . . Dynamos striker Simba Sithole (right) tries to shrug off the challenge of CAPS United defender Carlton Munzambwa during yesterday’s match at Rufaro. — (Picture by Munyaradzi Chamalimba.

Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
Dynamos………………………..(1)1

CAPS Utd………………………..(1)1

(CAPS United won 6-5 on penalties)

RODRECK Mutuma was the biggest winner as CAPS United coasted to a morale-boosting penalty shoot-out win over his former team Dynamos in the Sino-Zimbabwe Cement Cup at Rufaro yesterday.

The lanky forward took all the limelight to himself in his first game for Makepekepe, barely a week after he felt unwanted at the Glamour Boys and decided to make the big decision to cross the Great Divide.

As was expected, the Dynamos boo boys were on him but that could not deter him as he received from the Green Machine fans all the support he needed to stand the heat. Suddenly, they man they didn’t like a few months ago turning for Dynamos has become a darling.

Mutuma could not make it on the scoresheet yesterday but his swelling confidence and overall influence made a huge difference in the derby as Makepekepe recorded a rare win over their opponents.

DeMbare’s midfielder Milton Makopa was the fall guy when he missed his kick from the spot after the teams had played a 1-1 deadlock at the end of 90 minutes.

CAPS United’s new-boy Justice Jangano put the Green Machine ahead 20 minutes into the game but DeMbare were back in the game 10 minutes later when Walter Mukanga escaped his markers and headed home from Blessing Moyo’s free-kick.

Mutuma was the first to take the kick in the shoot-out lottery as he expertly converted to lead Makepekepe to a 100 percent finish in their spot kicks while DeMbare were always playing catch up and eventually succumbed to the pressure when Makopa sent his rising effort wide.

“Dynamos are my former team and when you are playing them, we need to put everything on the line. This match had a lot of tension because it was a derby and I what I did today is what I used to do when wearing a blue shirt.

“I have to put maximum effort in every game and that is my job. I hope to improve as the season goes,” said Mutuma.

Despite the pre-season rust showing on both sides CAPS United will always cherish the win as they have always played second fiddle to their opponents in the last five seasons.

Ex-Gunners player Jangano gave Makepekepe the advantage when he slid the ball home from a corner kick taken by Kudzai Nyamufukudza. However, the Green Machine’s lead could not last as they were made to pay for a defensive lapse from a set-piece on the hour mark.

DeMbare won a free-kick just inside Makepekepe half and midfielder Mukanga took advantage of sloppy marking when he headed home the equaliser unmarked in the middle.

However, both teams finished with 10 men after Sydney Linyama and CAPS United’s goal scorer Jangano were given marching orders in the 56th minute following a violent tussle inside the box.

Makepekepe’s new coach Mark Harrison said he was happy with the win, considering that he has only had a week with the players after arriving late for the pre-season from his base in South Africa.

Makepekepe, who lost several players during the off-season, paraded some of their new signings including goalkeeper Victor Twaliki, goalscorer Jangano, ex-DC Academy forward Nyamufukudza and Mutuma.

“This was a fantastic win for the boys and with this win today hopefully we can build for the future. It was hard out there and we have a lot of work to do.

“Don’t forget I have only had a week with these guys. Dynamos have been training for close to two months now and we have only been training for, I think, four weeks.

“We played against the best team in the league. They are the champions of Zimbabwe for the past four years, no one can take away that fact.

“So we have a lot of catch up to do, trust me. We are nowhere near where we need to be as a team. We need to work hard in all areas. We have got another 60 percent to go, I think,” said Harrison.

Dynamos coach David Mandigora said his team looked jittery at times despite fielding most of their players from last season in their starting line-up.

Their supporters also got to see their new signings as versatile player Godknows Murwira, who had a good game, Qadr Amini, Kenneth Bulaji and Dominic Chungwa who came in as a second half substitute all had a run-in in the match.

“It’s never good when you lose a match. We were just unlucky in the penalty shootout. Since it’s one of our preparation games we just need to improve on what we have just seen.

“We didn’t play as we should have. We learnt quite a few things from this match and we just hope to improve from there,” said Mandigora.

Teams

Dynamos: T. Mukuruva, B. Moyo, Q. Amini, S. Linyama, G. Murwira, A. Mbara, M. Mambare (C. Sekete, 51st minute), O. Machapa (B. Amidu, 77th minute), W. Mukanga (M. Makopa, 67th minute), K. Bulaji (D. Chungwa, 67th minute), S. Sithole

CAPS United: V. Twaliki, H. Zvirekwi, R. Pfumbidzai, S. Makatuka, J. Jangano, C. Munzabwa, M. Muchenje (A. Phiri, 70th minute), D. Mukandi, T. Mahori (G. Phiri, 56th minute), K. Nyamufukudza (L. Fiyado, 46th minute), R. Mutuma.