Dynamos draw infuriates fans

Tadious Manyepo

DYNAMOS supporters were left an infuriated lot after the Glamour Boys dropped massive points in this Castle Lager Premier Soccer League tie at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.

They broke into protest songs as they waited, in hordes at the exit, to pour their frustrations after coach Herbert “Jompano” Maruwa left their favourite player Denver Mukamba on the bench for their entire taxing 90.

The fans didn’t exactly blame Maruwa for the draw.

He is still a darling somehow, given he managed a sweet 2-0 victory over CAPS United in the Harare Derby last week.

But they were clearly not happy that Mukamba, the player who they believe in so much that every time he plays, nomatter the result, he is rewarded with cash.

But after seeing the 2012 Soccer Star of the Year spending the whole night on the bench, the supporters felt the Dynamos technical team, led by Maruwa decided to sabotage not only the player but the fans themselves.

They even defied an order, issued last week by their representative association, which prohibited them from giving any individual player some money.

In that statement, Dynamos Supporters Association secretary general Jane Mushininga directed all supporters to stop rewarding individuals saying the practice had the potential to divide the team.

“It has come to our attention that the ‘Sunday offering’ we give to players after matches in the stadium have the potential to cause divisions in the camp and bringing the brand and name of our sponsor into disrepute,” read the statement.

“Acknowledgement of good performance by our players is good from us supporters but we can use other means behind the scenes and not in stadia. We can organise our marshals to be at the team bus after the match with boxes which supporters can drop their offerings. Thereafter the money can be counted and shared to all players. We promise to support the team without causing discontent in the camp as well as protecting the name of our principal sponsor.”

However, this statement was shredded by the fans who sang protest songs against the directive and the technical team for not playing Mukamba yesterday.

They gave their hero lots of cash in both local and United States denominations.

They felt Maruwa’s decision not to play Mukamba was part of a ploy to neutralise the midfielder.

For Dynamos fans, Mukamba represents much more than just a footballer at the institution.

He is a role model and an influencer given he is the only remnant of the last crop of Dynamos to deliver a league title.

He is a lucky charm, who is gifted anyway, that makes Dynamos tick.

They wanted to see him in action yesterday.

And one wonders what could have happened had he been introduced into the fray.

Dynamos struggled all afternoon and with their wingers Tendai Matindife and Keith Madera failing to stamp their authority, the Glamour Boys looked very ordinary.

The ever green Donald Mudadi showed some glimpses but he had no one to complement his efforts with the energetic Tanaka Shandirwa full of running but failing to complete six passes the whole afternoon.

Left back Elvis Moyo came close to getting DeMbare’s opener with a powerful freekick that missed the target by inches after 32 minutes.

Two minutes later, Matindife forced a reflexive save from Triangle goalkeeper Matripples Muleya from a freekick at the edge of the box.

At the other end, Wolson Mensah skied his effort from inside the box after excellently controlling a heavy pass from the right flank.

Mudadi was denied by Muleya two minutes after the restart and from that moment, it was Triangle all over their opponents.

The lowveld side which played a controlled game would probably feel they deserved more that just a point from this match.

But they have no one to blame but themselves as substitute Wellington Taderera fluffed two golden opportunities to take the full points towards the end.

Maruwa welcomed the point.

“I think its a fair result. Triangle played very well. They are a very organised team. They have managed to hold Chicken Inn and FC Platinum before our match.

“We wanted an early goal but we failed to get one,” said Maruwa.

“I thought we failed to penetrate from the wings. Triangle managed to close down our wingers, Matindife (Tendai) and Keith (Madera).

“We only got to get some scoring chances when we introduced Eli Ilunga and Nyasha Chintuli.

“I think its still early days. Yesterday (Saturday), FC Platinum dropped points and today (yesterday) Highlanders also dropped points.

“We just need to keep on fighting. It’s very positive, we also managed to keep another clean sheet.

Triangle coach Thulani Sibanda hailed his charges’ spirit.

“I think it’s a point gained if you look at how Dynamos dominated. We struggled a bit in the first-half. They played well between the lines but second-half we came up with a strategy to manage them. We introduced ball players,” said Sibanda.

“I thought they (Dynamos) struggled each time we had the ball. I think getting a point away from home, at the National Sports Stadium against Dynamos is a good thing.

“If they come to Gibbo, I don’t think it will be easy for them so getting this point for us is an advantage.”

Dynamos moved to fifth position on the table with 12 points to their name while Triangle are now eighth with 11 points.