DeMbare boss backs his men
ALTHOUGH they are a pale shadow of the Glamour club that used to dominate in this country’s football matches, Premiership giants Dynamos insist they are happy with the progress made during this season’s rebuilding exercise.
Just like their compatriots and fellow Glamour Club, Kaizer Chiefs of South Africa, Dynamos are battling to end a long trophy drought that has stretched for five years.
Kaizer Chiefs, who are now banking on Warriors talisman Khama Billiat to fire them to glory, have endured four trophyless seasons.
However, they have now taken pole position in the league championship race.
But Dembare, who on Thursday marked exactly 21 years since they made history by reaching the CAF Champions League final, are now barely recognisable as the side that used to be serial champions.
On the night of November 7, 1998 and before a packed National Sports Stadium, Sunday Chidzambwa’s men reached their finest hour when they secured a Champions League final date with Cote d’Ivoire’s ASEC Mimosas, despite losing their final group game against Ghana’s Hearts of Oak.
However, Dynamos mid-table Premiership position in 2019, and their 40 points in 29 games, underline just how much the mighty have fallen.
They are 11 points behind leaders and bitter rivals CAPS United.
Of the 29 matches Dynamos have played, they have drawn 16 of them – a new record by the club’s standards.
Their highest number of drawn assignments, 15, last came in 1993.
Dynamos’ last eight league games have ended in draws.
As they look forward to regaining their winning touch in the last five matches of the season, club chairman Isiah Mupfurutsa told The Sunday Mail Sport that his leadership is happy with coach Tonderai Ndiraya and his men’s effort since the national Under 23 gaffer took charge in April.
Ndiraya has presided over 25 games, winning seven of them and losing two, with both defeats coming on the road.
Despite a long unbeaten run stretching 17 games, Dynamos have been held back by the draws, which have only ensured their safety from relegation. However, if the draws had been turned into wins, Dynamos could be angling for the ultimate prize.
Mupfurutsa said the team’s overall perfomance is encouraging.
Dynamos lost the bulk of the 2018 squad at the start of this year and have been relying on a bunch of rookies that was assembled by former coach Lloyd Chigowe.
“I would like to remind the Dynamos family that at the start of the year, we made it very clear that we were rebuilding after remaining with only about five to six players from the 2018 squad. These include Simba Chinani, Kudzanai Dhemere, Ma Rubber (Godfrey Mukambi) and Jimmy Tigere.
“The other one, Valentine Kadonzvo, eventually left for Chicken Inn and we then made a decision to embark on a rebuilding exercise. We got a few of our juniors and brought in a number of new players.
“This meant that the team also needed some time to gel. lf one looks at our opponents, some have had the same squads for two to three years or even more.
“So our first mission was to compete and avoid relegation while the team gelled. I think there has been commendable progress in that regard,’’ Mupfurutsa said.
The Dynamos boss also highlighted that so far, Ndiraya’s men have the least number
Cranborne dominate D1 awards
Mukudzei Chingwere CRANBORNE Bullets sealed their domination of the Northern Region Division One with the army side providing the bulk of the players on the 2019 Ruyamuro Soccer Star of theYear list.
In addition, Bullets coach Nesbert “Yabo’’ Saruchera, whose charges won the league’s sole ticket into the Premiership next season with three games to spare, was also voted Coach of the Year.
Northern Region secretary-general Sweeney Mushonga said the Soccer Star of theYear will be revealed at a special banquet.
“The best 11 players and the Coach of the Year have been selected, we are happy with their efforts.
“Although he has already been selected, the Soccer Star of theYear will be announced at a banquet on December 5.
“We also want to thank Ruyamuro and all the other sponsors for making this league one of the best in the country,”said Mushonga.
Northern Region Soccer League - 2019 best 11 soccer players
1. Kudakwashe Magama - Cranborne Bullets FC
2. Keith Mutangagari - Cranborne Bullets FC
3. Lucky - Herentals FC
4. Christopher Charakupa - Cranborne Bullets FC
5.Tendai Ruzive - Black Mambas FC
6. Maclint Namachena - Harare City FC
7. Marlvin Hwata - Cranborne Bullets FC
8.Tonderai Mawerera - Beta XI FC
9. Lista Ndlovu - Black Mambas FC
10. Brighton Christopher - Black Mambas FC
11. Kelvin Chibunyu - Cranborne Bullets FC
Coach of theYear - Nesbert Saruchera - Cranborne Bullets FC of defeats this season - five.
“This team has shown potential and they have even posted good results against established opponents like FC Platinum and CAPS United.
“We are happy with Ndiraya and his technical team. He didn’t assemble this team but he managed to get them to produce some good results.
“If you look at Barcelona during the golden era of the likes of Iniesta, Xavi, Puyol, they were a great machine. But if you look at Barcelona now after they have brought in new players, their performance has gone down a bit. That happens in football.
“When we go into the second year of our rebuilding, with our squad stronger, we can then talk of one or two pieces of silverware as well as challenging for the league championship.”
Mupfurutsa went to apologise to the DeMbare supporters and lauded them for standing by the team despite having to endure a frustrating season that included the team’s first round exit from the Chibuku Super Cup.
“I would like to appreciate our supporters for being patient with the team and also for understanding that we are going
Cheetahs finish third
Mehluli Sibanda in JOHANNESBURG, South Africa
ZIMBABWE claimed the bronze at this year’s Rugby Africa Men’s Sevens which concluded yesterday at Bosman Stadium in Johannesburg, with the Cheetahs failing to secure direct qualification to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
The Cheetahs, defending champions at this year’s competition, beat Madagascar 24-7 in the tournament’s third place playoff, with the result good enough to send them to next year’s repechage qualifier.
Runners-up Uganda are also going to the repechage, which will be staged in June next year.
Zimbabwe and Uganda also booked a spot in the World Series qualifiers tournament, which will be staged in South America early next year.
Kenya won the tournament with a 29-0 triumph over Uganda in an East African decider to determine the winner of the direct ticket to the Olympics.
It was a disappointing end for Gilbert Nyamutsamba’s men.
During the two-day tournament, the Cheetahs only suffered one defeat in a 21-12 loss to Uganda in the semi-finals, and that defeat made the difference.
Nyamutsamba feels the Rugby Africa Men’s Sevens was a difficult tournament for his team, with the end result not what they desired.
However, he was impressed with their performance.
CHELSEA secured a sixth straight Premier League win to move up to second as the in-form Tammy Abraham and Christian Pulisic struck to beat Crystal Palace 2-0 yesterday.
Abraham ended Palace’s dogged defensive resistence with a simple finish from Willian’s deft through ball seven minutes into the second half, before Pulisic headed home a loose ball 11 minutes from time to seal all three points.
Chelsea edge a point clear of Manchester City and to within five of leaders Liverpool, who host City in a highly-anticipated clash tonight.
A 4-4 draw with Ajax on Tuesday took the tally of goals Chelsea’s prior 18 games this season to 70 at an average of nearly four per game. through this phase. They have not abused the coaches, players or administration.
“The majority of the players are very young and are playing in the PSL for the first time
“We understand and appreciate the supporters’ frustration because we have gone for five years without winning the league. But despite that, the supporters have been travelling with us all over the country whenever we play at home and away. We also apologise to the supporters for the failure in the Chibuku Cup first round.”
Mupfurutsa also paid special tribute to the club’s sponsors, saying they have ensured there is tranquillity at Dynamos, a club that has a tradition of being volatile.
“I attribute the stability we have to the high levels of discipline, the coaches and players are focusing on their jobs. There is a lot of unity and transparency within the executive, and there is a lot of support from the board.
Gamecocks close in on CAPS
Chicken Inn………………….2 Triangle………………………1
TITLE chasers Chicken Inn revived their fading hopes of clinching the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League championship when a goal each in the first half by Innocent Mucheneka and Xolani Ndlovu helped them to their second win in six matches at Luveve yesterday. The Gamecocks moved into second place, dislodging champions FC Platinum, who are inactive this weekend. Chicken Inn coach Joey Antipas received the result with mixed feelings as he was happy that his team is back in the championship matrix but is in a conundrum as he will be absent in the next two fixtures. Antipas, who is the interim national senior men’s team head coach, will be heading for two assignments with the Warriors during a time when his side will be playing Mushowani and Ngezi Platinum on Wednesday and Saturday respectively. The Warriors take on Botswana on Friday and Zambia the following week.
“The result gives us hope as it firmly places us back into the championship matrix and with five games to go there is still a lot to play for. All we have to do is ensure we work hard to come up with the best results and take as much from the remaining 15 points. In any normal country, games are cancelled when it’s a FIFA week but unfortunately it is not the same here and this leaves us in a conundrum.We just hope we will be able to try and manage the situation, but we don’t know how,”Antipas said.
“More importantly, our benefactors and sponsors, including RG Tobacco and Nyaradzo, have ensured a tranquil environment,’’ Mupfurutsa said.
Dynamos are also hoping to cash in on their partnership with some Belgians amid revelations that Ndiraya and his technical crew will travel to the European country for an exchange programme early next year.
Ngezi edge into Chibuku final
Harare City...................................1 Ngezi Platinum Stars...................1
THREE years after they won the Chibuku Super Cup, Ngezi Platinum Stars rode their luck to edge into this year’s final after a close contest with Harare City at Baobab yesterday. The victory leaves the miners with a chance to end the season with at least some silverware after they fell behind in the league championship race.
Goalkeeper Nelson Chadya’s heroics in the sudden death penalty shootout helped the miners back into the final they last reached in 2016.
After both teams had been deadlocked 1-1 in regulation time, the game had to be decided by penalties.
Still after the prescribed five penalties for either side, the two teams could not be separated and the lottery went into sudden death.
Ngezi had to bank on national Under23 goalkeeper Chadya’s agility to thwart Tatenda Tumba and send the miners’ fans into delirium.
After watching his men edge past battling Harare City, Ngezi coach Rodwell Dhlakama believes they have the pedigree to win the cup. “It is in my DNA to play in the finals and it’s not something new to me and with the players I have, nothing can stop us from winning it.”