Dembare beat Caps United

FOR all the pre-match hype generated by this game, the Harare Derby was a huge yawn, and fittingly, it had to be decided by a penalty as Dynamos maintained their four-year stranglehold on rivals CAPS United at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.

The win pushed Dynamos to 18 points and they are now just three points behind leaders FC Platinum and two behind Highlanders, who are tied on 20 points with How Mine after a surprise defeat to the newboys yesterday.

The Harare Derby was barely recognisable as the biggest game in the capital, if not in the country, and it fell way short of justifying its status as the flagship fixture of the Castle Lager Premiership.

A poor pitch at the giant stadium, which made it difficult for the players to control the ball, didn't help matters and for long periods the game staggered, without any life or colour, it was an insult to the thousands who gathered to witness what was supposed to be a showcase event.

Overzealous referee, Pedzisayi Chadya, who handled this match as if he was taking charge of a table tennis contest where no physical contact was allowed, also played a big part in taking the fire out of this showdown.

The build-up to the game had centred on Washington Pakamisa, facing his former team for the first time in the DeMbare colours, and the CAPS' squad of Ronald Pfumbidzai, Dominic Chungwa, Tawanda Nyamandwe and Hardlife Zvirekwi.

Incredibly, none of these players made any positive impact on the game and the hardworking Pakamisa was only limited to one sharp chance, on the blind side in the first half, which he hooked over the target.

The CAPS United striking pair of Chungwa and Nyamandwe were easily dealt with by the Dembare central defensive duo of Gift Bello and Partson Jaure and there was one good opening for Nyamandwe in the first half but, under pressure, he fired over.

For all the buzz that has followed Zvirekwi, he never showed up for the big occasion.

Pfumbidzai was at fault, in the decisive moment of a very, very poor game in the 26th minute, when he clipped the heel of former CAPS United forward, Clive Kawinga, starting his first match in the Glamour Boys' colours.

The referee, who was close to the action, spotted the foul and pointed to the spot with Devon Chafa, one of the few players to emerge out of this contest having done justice to his growing profile, sending keeper Tafadzwa Dube the wrong side with an expertly taken penalty.

CAPS United coach, Taurai Mangwiro, felt the penalty and some of the decisions made by Chadya made the difference.

CAPS United last beat Dynamos in a league match in April 2009, when Nyasha Mushekwi scored a brace at Rufaro while Oscar Machapa had a field day on Sam Mutenheri.

But the Green Machine are yet to score, even a single goal, in three league matches and a Mbada Diamonds Cup semi-final against their rivals since Callisto Pasuwa took over as coach at Dembare.

Teams:
CAPS United: T. Dube, J. Mutambiranwa (K. Bulaji 47th min), T. Munyanduri, G. Magariro, H. Zvirekwi (M. Muchenje min 72nd), R. Pfumbidzai, R. Kutsanzira(L. Fiyado min 83rd ), D. Chungwa, A. Chivheya, T. Nyamandwe,   T. Khumbuyani
Dynamos: G. Chigova, M. Murape (M. Mupasiri 85th min), T. Muparati, D. Chafa, C. Kawinga (B. Ziruntusa 64th min), T. Magorimbo, G. Bello, M. Bello, O. Mushure, P. Jaure, M. Kadzola.