Dembare, Herentals in ill-tempered circus

Herentals reserve goalkeeper Nevermind Antonio is dragged off the pitch by police officers at the National Sports Stadium yesterday. Inset: Second assistant referee Edgar Rumeki sustained a deep cut on his right hand after he was hit by a bottle

HERENTALS . . . . (0)0

DYNAMOS . . . . . (0)0

THE turf war between Herentals and Dynamos carried over into the actual match.

On Thursday they clashed over the training ground and then the two teams had physical skirmishes in the second half of their goalless encounter at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.

It was in the 70th minute when the fracas that spoiled the game started leading to Herentials reserve goalkeeper Nevermind Antonio being red carded by referee Thabani Bamala.

A group of Herentals substitutes stormed the Dembare dugout to retrieve the match ball, which the Glamour Boys had kept since the ball boys were taking their time to throw the ball back into play.

A melee ensued, which required the intervention of referee Thabani Bamala who then showed Herentals reserve goalkeeper Nevermind Antonio a red card.

Antonio upset the Dynamos fans when he decided to arrogantly march through the field of play as the referee was about to restart the game and the  angry fans responded by pelting him with missiles causing further delay.

It was basically the highlight of the match and a bad advertisement of the local game.

Unruly fans also pelted the referees with missiles and subsequently one of the referees and a policeman had to be treated for injuries.

What started as a potentially exciting match degenerated into an ill-tempered circus.

In Dynamos' context it meant that they have dropped further down in the race for the league title and have won only one of their last six matches.

They were frustrated more by the way the match panned out resulting in a share of the spoils.

"It was a very frustrating afternoon.

"The ball boys, the inside players from Herentals were delaying. We play five minutes the next five minutes you are out, it killed our rhythm," a visibly disappointed Dynamos coach Herbert Maruwa said after the match.

"I think the referees need to get in on that issue because if there is a delay of five minutes and three minutes is added, I don't think it's on.

"I think in the first half we did very well in the exchanges, even from the first line to the second line, but the third line; the cutting edge wasn't good. In the second half when we made some changes there was some bit of urgency," said the Dembare gaffer.

"The good thing is we are going to play 34 games, this one is gone and we have to quickly forget about it, we have to focus on our next game," he added.

The match began at a high octane pace, but none of the teams created genuine goal-scoring opportunities.

Dynamos were the first to come close when Nigerian import Emmanuel Paga directed his header into the side net following a Denver Mukamba freekick.

The Glamour Boys had further chances from Paga, Kelvin Moyo and Denver Mukamba who was making a rare start, but none yielded results.

Tino Benza had an opportunity to shoot, but skied his effort into the stands late in the half.

Herentals made three substitutions at the break bringing in Tafadzwa Jim, Blessing Majarira and  Collins Mujuru for Prince Chama, Innocent Benza and Archmore Majarira.

Jim stung Taimon Mvula with a blistering shot from an acute angle soon after the resumption.

Junior Makunike made a bustling run through the midfield and his thumping shot from range flew just over the bar as Dynamos sought for the winner late in the game.

But perhaps a draw was a fair result.

Herentals coach Kumbirai Mutiwekuziva was disappointed with his team's performance and felt there was an opportunity for three points.

"It was quite a difficult game against the Seven Million (Dynamos) and actions on the pitch showed that it was difficult. In terms of performances we did not do our best as a team. If we were up there we should have won the game," he said.

Mutiwekuziva defended his team against accusations of time wasting by the opposition coach while castigating the behaviour by the reserve goalkeeper.

"I have heard him saying that several times whenever they drew or drop points . I don't know why, but the minutes we play are the same, why can't they win in those minutes if they are good enough?

"He is a goalkeeper from the development side, who joined the premier league this season. I think those situations can happen in Division One, but we have to correct him because we are now in the premiership," Mutiwekuziva said.

Teams

Herentals: Takudzwa Chikosi, Brighton Majarira, Tinotenda Benza, Gibson Chinobva, Zibusiso Ruguchu, Archmore Majarira( B Majarira 46'), Innocent Benza( Collin Mujuru 46'), Prince Chama( Tafadzwa Jim 46'), Godfrey Mukambi, William Kapumha, Milton Chimedza ( A Maliselo 87')

Dynamos: Taimon Mvula, Elvis Moyo, Kevin Moyo, Elie Ilunga( J Bakari 82'), Denver Mukamba(T Makanda 58'), Frank Makarati, Emmanuel Jalai, Junior Makunike, Emmanuel Paga(I Sadiki 58'), Donald Mudadi, Tanaka Shandirwa( T Matindife 82')

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