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NO WAY THROUGH . . . This picture combo shows ZPC Kariba defender Ephraim Mwinga stalking Dynamos forward Simba Sithole during their Castle Lager Premiership tie at the National Sports Stadium yesterday where the top-flight league newcomers brewed the biggest shock of the season, so far, by beating the champions in their backyard. – Picture by Tawanda Mudimu

Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
Dynamos ……………………………..0
ZPC Kariba……………………….. (0) 1
DEFENDING champions Dynamos were left to do some deep soul searching after a pathetic show that saw them succumb to an injury-time goal against Premiership newboys ZPC Kariba in their first league game at their new home at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.

The Harare giants turned on a poor show and, in the end, veteran forward Artwell Nyamiwa stabbed them where it hurt most when he bundled home ZPC Kariba’s winner with a cracking close range shot two minutes into time added on.

DeMbare, who are battling to cover up the simmering discontent in their camp over winning bonuses and the sharing of the proceeds from the Bob90 Super Cup, had missed a couple of chances earlier on.

The Dynamos players appeared they were not up for it as they played at a pedestrian pace although coach Callisto Pasuwa was not in the mood to discuss the discord in their camp.

But ZPC Kariba, who collected a crucial point when they held CAPS United to a 1-1 draw in their opening match last week, looked like a team that was content getting another draw from the giants although the football gods had prepared something bigger for them.

The visitors were defensive for the most part of the game as they tried by all means to slow down the pace of the game.

Their coach, Saul Chaminuka, said he had planned it that way since he believes his players are still lagging behind in terms of match fitness. Chaminuka was excited by the win which took his team’s points tally to four in two matches.

“Winning against Dynamos means a lot. Everyone wants to win against them. It may surprise some people (that we have beaten them) but all teams that play against Dynamos prepare better because Dynamos are the number one team in the country.

“When you play them that’s when you see how good your team is. Even the players themselves are more than prepared because it is the barometer to say this is the kind of player that I am,” said Chaminuka.

ZPC Kariba were on the back foot for the better part of the game but DeMbare had themselves to blame after missing some good opportunities. Patrick Kumbula, who started as the main marksman, with Simba Sithole playing behind him, let his team down on many occasions when he was in a better position to score.

That a forward of Kumbula’s quality, or lack of it, continues to lead the line for a team like Dynamos, puts the shortcomings that the Glamour Boys have in attack into context.

The DeMbare fans were not amused by their team’s performance and had started whistling in disapproval as early as the 15th minute. Kumbula could have done better in the 35th minute following a charming move by Ronald Chitiyo in the ZPC Kariba goal area but he failed to control the ball as the impressive goalkeeper Tendai Hove moved in to collect.

The DeMbare forward could have put his name on the scoresheet when he was presented with the chance to bury the minnows twice in succession just before the half-time whistle but his first touch on both occasions was horrible.

ZPC Kariba had their first real chance coming six minutes after the breather when David Rediyoni released Tsepo Ranthokoane on the right but his shot just zoomed wide with George Chigova badly exposed. DeMbare’s 66rd minute substitute Oscar Machapa breathed some life into their game going forward but the visitors defended resolutely with Ephraim Mwinga, Dennis Dauda and veteran Norman Togara holding the fort while Tawanda Munyanduri and Obey Mwerahari snuffed out any threats from the midfield.

Their efforts were rewarded when the Dynamos defenders went to sleep as Nyamiwa found himself unmarked to control a cross from the right before firing into an empty net in front of him.

The former Lengthens forward, who missed last week’s opening match against CAPS United, was in  the right place and at the right time as he announced his return to the Premiership with a loud bang.

“Like I said we are short in the area of match fitness and had to play from home and maybe rely on the counter. This is how we planned our game and I think it worked for us,” said Chaminuka.

Dynamos, on the other hand, will have to regroup following this pathetic show.

Pasuwa, who bore much of the verbal abuse from the dejected supporters, was disappointed with his team’s performance.

“Today we lost the game and it’s very unfortunate. Good luck to the winning team; they played very well. I think the number of chances that we missed cost us. We had our chances and they got one and they killed us,” said Pasuwa.

TEAMS
Dynamos: G. Chigova, T. Magorimbo, A. Mbara, T. Ndlovu, S. Linyama, S. Alimenda, C. Sekete (O. Machapa, 63rd minute), D. Chafa, P. Khumbula (W. Pakamisa, 56th minute), S. Sithole (A. Gondo, 79th minute), R. Chitiyo

ZPC Kariba:  T. Hove, N. Togara, D. Phiri, E. Mwinga, D. Dauda, T. Munyanduri, O. Mwerahari, P. Tafirenyika (T. Chikede, 77th minute), T. Ranthokoane (A. Nyamiwa, 59th minute), D. Rediyoni (M. Makanje, 70th minute), R. Manuvire