Controversy in Harare Derby

Dynamos 1-1 Caps United
A RED card, two penalties and some bit of controversy summed up the Harare Derby as Dynamos and Caps United concluded a long season with a deserved share of the spoils at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.

Dynamos' Ghanaian import Emmanuel Paga saved the day for the Glamour Boys with a late goal after DeMbare had trailed for most of the game following a 34th minute penalty conversion by Castle Lager Premiership Golden Boot winner, William Manondo who finished the season with 17 goals.

Defender Frank Makarati fluffed a good chance to go level before half-time after referee Brighton Chimene had awarded a hotly contested penalty.

But the Glamour Boys still fought back late on and got a point despite finishing the game with 10 men. Dynamos captain Partson Jaure was shown a red card with 15 minutes remaining.

All the same, the teams treated their supporters to some entertaining football. The supporters, though not forming quite the big crowd traditionally expected for the Harare Derby, appeared satisfied with the result.

England-based former DeMbare defender, Chamu Musanhu, was also at the stadium to cheer his former team. But this was a game that Caps United could have easily claimed, had they tightened their defence after gaining a numerical advantage, with the expulsion of Jaure.

Makepekepe coach Lloyd Chitembwe was impressed by the quality of the game, which was a vast improvement from how the teams have been preforming this season.

"It was a very good game of football, very balanced," he said.

"I thought both sets of players reserved the best for the last though in a worthless cause, you may call it. All the same, both sets of players were gallant today, they played with a lot of courage and energy.

"I am sure the flak that they got during the week that the Derby was meaningless, especially with regards to the performances of both sets of players, really injected a lot of desire in them. So it was a very good game of football and, personally, I enjoyed it," said Chitembwe.

Ndiraya went home happy, especially the realisation that they collected four points from their traditional rivals.

"In my opinion, I think it was an exciting match, if you look at the events that took place during the game. I thought we had lots of chances in the first-half, clear cut chances for that matter, and we failed to score. I think that really sums our attack this season," said Ndiraya.

"With all that we had done in the first-half we had to go to the breather behind but I liked the character and the fighting spirit in the second-half. Of course in the middle of searching of an equaliser our captain then got red carded and then in those moments we had to shift how we were playing.

"The boys showed an equaliser and after that it was just a matter of managing the game if you consider where we were coming from. It was risky to push forward and try to find the winner. So I am happy with the way the team managed the game up until the end," said Ndiraya.

Dynamos finished the season in third place, behind champions FC Platinum and Chicken Inn. They have 58 points. Caps United, on the other hand, finished 11th with 40 points.