Dynamos . . . . . . 0(0) Triangle . . . . . . . 0(0)
Beleaguered Dynamos coach Paulo Jorge Silva earned his first point in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League after he saw his team play out a drab goalless stalemate at Rufaro yesterday.
By Munyaradzi Madzokere
More worrying was the lifeless performance by the majority of players, who more often than not bring their ‘A’ game each time they play at home, fuelling speculation that they did not want to play for the Portuguese coach.
There were some disturbances outside the stadium after the encounter as Dynamos supporters, who had braved the chilly weather, showed solidarity with Silva and clamoured for Gift Muzadzi’s dismissal from the team’s technical department, accusing him of fueling disharmony.
It was a point earned though for the visiting Sugar Boys who put up a splendid defensive performance while they also have goalkeeper Tapiwa Chilenga to thank for some heroic goalkeeping in the first half.
After the match, Silva — who is believed to be ready to tender his resignation from the Dynamos top post — thought his team could have won the match by a big margin with a bit of luck.
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“The game was good, you saw the game, we could have scored 10 goals but my team lacked a little bit of luck. I am not happy with the result, but I am happy with my players because they fought until the last minute,” he said.
Silva, however, admitted to pressure mounting, adding that there was a problem in the team somewhere, which he is going to discuss with the board.
“There is a problem, but this is a problem for me and the board to talk about. Everyone knows it but we need to fix it. Everyone is under pressure if you come to training at Dynamos, but there is something happening that I don’t like. I know these players can play 10 times better than they played. Some things are not right, but next week we have to make things right,” the Dynamos coach said.
Commenting on reports that he would resign in the next few days Silva said: “I can’t talk about it but currently I am the coach at Dynamos. I came here to be champions. My players need to come to the game. I promise the fans to work hard and fight for three points in every game.”
Following last week’s defeat to champions Chicken Inn, Dynamos desperately needed the three points to keep pace with the log leaders early in the season.
In the first half, Triangle, coached by David Mandigora, looked hungrier for the points as Courage Denias, Lameck Nhamo and Meson Nelson tried to beat Tatenda Mukuruva from close range early on.
DeMbare had a chance to nose ahead in the 24th minute, but Chilenga saved Kennedy Bulaji’s point blank effort from Roderick Mutuma’s quick corner kick.
Walter Mukanga, who was having a nightmarish performance on the day was next to draw a super save from Chilenga when he got to the end of an Ocean Mushure free kick, but a one-handed save by the Triangle goalkeeper denied him.
In the second half chances were hard to come by for both teams, but Mukuruva had to save twice with 20 minutes left to play, first from Nhamo then he had to use his feet to stop Munyaradzi Chiwara from the rebound.
Dynamos pushed for the winner late in the game but the visitors defence marshalled by Guthrie Zhokinyi, Ralf Kawondera, Meson and Mukumba Marvelous was unyielding.
In injury time James Chivasa almost won Triangle maximum points with a glancing header that missed goal by a few inches.
In the end Mandigora was happy making the long trip back to Triangle with a point taken from the Harare giants away from home.
“For us, a point away from home is good. The guys played well although we didn’t create many scoring chances. There were times when we managed to control the game and it’s a fair result, especially when we are playing away from home,” he said.
