DYNAMOS coach Lloyd Mutasa (pictured) admitted that he was under increasing pressure after his winless side failed to score for the third successive league match to hand basement side ZPC Kariba their first point of the season in an insipid Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Nyamhunga stadium yesterday.
BY NUNURAI JENA Dynamos……. (0)0 ZPC Kariba… (0) 0
The result meant the Harare giants have picked up a measly two points from a possible 15 in their worst start to the season in the history of the modern Premiership.
Speaking after the encounter, Mutasa expressed concern at his team’s continued failure to score, but took some positives from his charges’ improvement in defence after managing to keep a clean sheet for the first time this season.
“I think it’s worrisome that we failed to get a goal again, but we improved by getting a point away from home and a clean sheet. so if you look at the defending side, at least for today we managed to safeguard our goal.
“The weakest link is the scoring of goals, it’s a process and we will keep working on that and today at least we created a few more chances, but we could not utilise them and it’s an area that we really need to keep improving on,” said Mutasa.
On the mounting pressure from the club’s demanding fans to register a win, Mutasa said: “Football is a pressure game but you look at the arsenal that you have and I think we have the material. I think it’s a point gained considering what has been happening in the team.”
ZPC Kariba had the better of the exchanges in the early stages of the game matching their opponents man-for-man, but soon fizzled out as the game wore on.
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Veteran striker Tawanda Nyamandwe had the team’s best chance to open the scoresheet in the first half, but he missed the target with only Dynamos keeper Tonderai Mateyaunga to beat.
Another ZPC Kariba chance went begging when a cross by Mangani in the 28th found the head of Moses Demera, but Mateyaunga was equal to the task.
The desperation was evident from the coaches when ZPC Kariba coach Godfrey Tamirepi made an early substitution in the first half, bringing in Talent Chamboko for the ineffective Samuel Gorogodyo in the 36th minute.
In the 40th minute, ZPC Kariba striker Moses Demera failed to head home from a free header in the box.
In the second half, ZPC Kariba started on the offensive, but Demera was the culprit once again fluffing a chance when he failed to connect after a good cross by overlapping Bornface Zuberi, who had a good game on the right flank. He was later injured and replaced by Tsepo Ranthokoane in the 52nd minute.
Dynamos created very few chances but their best opportunity to break the deadlock came in the 75th minute after a good build-up, but Obey Mwerahari failed to utilise a cross from Valentine Kadonzvo.
Tamirepi was a disappointed man but said the first point they gained would be a morale booster for his players.
“I’m very disappointed (with the result). we managed to control the game, but we were too much in a rush and I’m not happy with way we failed to collect maximum points,” he said.
Tamirepi has also been under fire after his team failed to collect a point in their first four matches, but remained defiant saying he was not under any pressure as the league was still in its infancy.
Teams:
ZPC Kariba: T Mawaya, B Zuberi, M. Kunyarimwe, S Appiah, S Nekati, T Munyanduri, C Muleya, G Mangani, M Demera, S Gorogodyo (T Chamboko 36′), T Nyamandwe (L Vundla 83′) Dynamos: T Mateyaunga, B Moyo, O Mushure, G Mukambi, J Tigere, J Marufu, O Mwerahari (K Kumwala 71′), R Manuvire, C Kapupurika (T Macheke 60′), Q Kangadze, V Kadonzvo (P Mutasa 79′)
PSL fixtures and results at a glance
Yesterday: Harare City 2-0 Bulawayo Chiefs, ZPC Kariba 0-0 Dynamos, Bulawayo City 0-1 Black Rhinos, Yadah 1-2 Triangle United, Ngezi Platinum 1-0 Chicken Inn Today: CAPS United v Herentals (National Sports Stadium), Shabanie Mine v Mutare City (Maglas), Chapungu v FC Platinum (Ascot), Highlanders v Nichrut (Barbourfields)
