DE-MBARE, Di Mbada retain title

DYNAMOS retained the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title, their fourth league success in a row after defeating How Mine at the National Sports Stadium, on a rather sad day as coach Kalisto Pasuwa announced he will not renew his contract with the champions.

DYNAMOS . . . . . . . . . . (1) 2
HOW MINE . . . . . . . . . . 0

Yesterday’s result was aided by ZPC Kariba’s 3-2 loss to Caps United across town at Gwanzura Stadium.

Russell Madamombe put Dynamos in front on 15th minute, some few minutes after news had filtered in that Caps United had taken a two nil lead, before veteran Murape Murape made sure of victory for the champions in optional time.

But that result could have been meaningless had Caps United lost or drew their match against ZPC Kariba, so for the second season in a row, Dynamos relied on their number one enemy to win the championship.

However, the Glamour Boys’ record success was followed by the team coach Kalisto Pasuwa announcing that he will not renew his contract which expires at the end of the year.

Dynamos FC coach Kalisto Pasuwa with the winner’s medal.

There was speculation at the end of last week that Pasuwa was considering leaving Dynamos, and he confirmed the news after the final match: “There have been a lot of things going on in the background at Dynamos and I will not mince my words . . . this match was my last league match at Dynamos.

“My contract is expiring on December 31 and I will not renew it. It’s a personal decision and I had told my close associates way before this match that with or without the league, I was not renewing the contract,” said Pasuwa who is also the men’s senior national team coach.

Pasuwa took over at Dynamos from Lloyd Mutasa in 2011 when the team was 12 points behind FC Platinum in the later stages of the season before leading a massive comeback to win the title. He then went on to win the title in the following two seasons.

Dynamos fans and players celebrate the team’s win.

Reports yesterday suggested that the former Dynamos midfielder has been offered a lucrative offer by rivals Harare City. Others also suggested that he is leaving Dynamos so that he can concentrate on the Warriors job. He, however, refuted the claims, saying he is taking a break from football.

“I’m not leaving because of the national team job, but I’m saying maybe I need to take a rest. If there is any job offer that might come, I will have to see if the offer is worthwhile, but at the moment I’m taking a break,” said the 44-year-old.

A Dynamos source yesterday confided to NewsDay Sport that the club are considering Caps United coach Taurai Mangwiro and former Warriors gaffer Ian Gorowa to fill in the void created by Pasuwa’s departure.

Dynamos fans celebrate their team winning the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title for the fourth time in a row.

Going into yesterday’s match, the mission was quite complex for Dynamos. They needed to beat Luke Masomere’s How Mine and hope that Caps United, their fiercest enemy on the local scene, beat log leaders ZPC Kariba who needed just a draw to be confirmed champions in their maiden season.

Yet as the two matches reached the halftime break, the tide was going the Dynamos way. Pasuwa’s massively reshuffled team were leading 1-0, thanks to Madamombe’s early goal, and ZPC was trailing 3-1 across town.

Buoyed by the news from Gwanzura, Dynamos came back in the second half charging and looking for a second goal, but some wayward finishing by the strikers especially Farai Mupasiri kept the scoreline at 1-0 at 90 minutes.

Dynamos chairman Kenny Mubaiwa lifts the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League trophy.

For the Dynamos fans, it was a painful ordeal as news filtered that ZPC Kariba had scored to make the scoreline 3-2, and needing just another goal to clinch the title.

Murape then scored in stoppage time, connecting home after some good work by substitute Oscar Machapa and moments later, the final whistle at the National Sports Stadium blew.

Tawanda Muparati and Murape Murape with the trophy.

But there were some few minutes to go at Gwanzura, and with every tick of that time passing, Dynamos’ supporters hearts pounded ever faster. With the scoreline at 3-2, they were starting to fear the worst, starting to fear that Saul Chaminuka’s team would snatch a last minute equaliser.

When the final whistle finally sounded in Highfields, its full effect was felt approximately 20 kilometres away, in Belvedere, as the National Sports roared in celebrations.

Dynamos players celebrate winning the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title for the fourth time in a row.

Supporters thronged the field to mob their heroes, and Pasuwa, in his moment of glory, sat motionlessly on the bench before he was whisked away to the dressing room by the club’s security personnel.

Moments later, the helicopter with the trophy made its way into the stadium. However, only 18 players received their winning medals and Premier League IT and Marketing officer Rodwell Thabe explained that there was a hitch with the designer, assuring that the rest of the players will get their medals before the end of the week.

Teams:
DYNAMOS — T Mukuruva, B Moyo, O Mushure, T Ndlovu, E Muroiwa, M Makopa, T Mabvura (T Muparati, 57’), M Murape, R Madamombe (O Machapa, 90’), S Sithole, F Mupasiri (R Chitiyo, 54’).
HOW MINE — B Donovan, N Tachi, J Chitereki, K Musharu, N Mukumbi, W Sithole, M Mupera, G Banda, G Nyamadzawo (C Masocha, 60’), T Masuku, F Chirinda (E Mandiranga, 70’)