Manica DIAMONDS . . . . . . . .(1) 1
Dynamos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0
Dynamos coach Genesis Mangombe is adamant his squad is still in contention for the league championship despite a shattering defeat to Manica Diamonds in the two teams’ outstanding fixture at Gibbo Stadium yesterday.
A 12th minute Brian Chikwenya goal dented DeMbare’s title chances and subsequently pushed them off their second position on the log standings.
Mangombe’s men fell one rung on the log to third position and remain eight points behind leaders Ngezi Platinum Stars, who are now favourites to win their first-ever league title.
The Mhondoro-Ngezi-based side now needs just 11 points from the remaining five matches to be confirmed league champions.
Second-placed Manica Diamonds are on 50 points, seven behind the leaders.
Mangombe acknowledged that it is now difficult to overhaul the points against the title rivals, but is not throwing in the towel yet.
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He blamed yesterday’s defeat to fatigue.
“It was a difficult game,” a dejected Mangombe said after the match.
“We have played a number of games in a short space of time. We played ZPC Kariba, Caps United and this game, so I feel that fatigue contributed to our performance.
“The boys played very well, only that we didn’t convert the few chances we had. We have to go back and address those grey areas and make sure we do better in the next assignment.”
Dynamos face Black Rhinos at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday, while Ngezi Platinum travel to the Colliery to face Hwange.
“We will have to try our best in that game against Rhinos to collect maximum points. We don’t give up. You never know how this will end. We will play to the last minute of the season. I’m happy the boys are playing very well, like today we dominated in everything during the first and second half,” the Glamour Boys mentor said.
Mangombe also believes that some refereing decisions went against his side yesterday and could have contributed to the chastening defeat.
He feels there was a foul committed in the build-up to the goal, and that his team was also denied what appeared a genuine penalty when a Manica Diamonds player seemed to handle the ball inside the box.
“You can’t complain much because that same referee might officiate in your next match, so at times you just have to accept his decisions because he is the man in charge,” Mangombe said.
Manica Diamonds assistant coach Tafadzwa Mashiri was over the moon. “Glory to God, victory won’t come sweeter than this. We have strengthened our position (on the log standings) and we will try to collect as many points as we can in the next matches and see how it ends,” said Mashiri, whose side has a chance to close the gap on Ngezi to four points if they beat Sheasham on Saturday.
Yesterday’s game lived up to its billing as one of the heavyweight contests of the season on the local scene, with chances aplenty in the opening minutes.
Eli Ilunga hit the side netting in the ninth minute for the visitors before Fortune Binzi was hacked down at the other end just outside the box as he charged for goal.
Chikwenya struck to give his side the lead and Dynamos almost responded immediately, but Tanaka Shandirwa missed an open net after some good work by Issa Sadiki on the left wing.
Fast winger Gift Bero could have consolidated his side’s lead going into the half-time break when he beat an offside trap to go eyeball-to-eyeball with the goalkeeper, but could not beat his man.
Dynamos threw everything at Manica Diamonds in the second half in search of an equaliser, but the closest they came was from a Sadiki freekick, which was saved by goalkeeper Tedius Baye.
They were almost punished on the counter when Binzi ran clean through on goal with eight minutes remaining, but was denied by a good save from Dynamos goalkeeper Prince Tafiremutsa.
That proved to be the last real action of this otherwise entertaining contest.
Teams
Manica Diamonds: T Baye, L Masibera, B Chikwenya, K Gwao, T Mavhunga, L Chakoroma, A Rupande, B Amidu (R Kawondera, 57’), M Tapera, G Bero (T Chamboko, 57’), F Binzi
Dynamos: P Tafiremutsa, D Dzvinyai, W Chimbetu, K Moyo (S Nyahwa, 67’), F Makarati, J Makunike, T Shandirwa (T Makanda, 75’), A Musiiwa (E Ziocha, 61’), K Madera (E Paga, 61’), I Sadiki, E Ilunga (E Chikona, 61’)
