tch played at Rufaro Stadium on Sunday.
DeMbare, as Dynamos are affectionately known in the local football circles were expected to ruthlessly rout the little known of the premiership-Lengthens, but some poor shooting front proved to be the DeMbare’s worst enemies.
Dynamos were expected to overtake arch-rivals CAPS United and Masvingo United at the top but once again, the lack of composure, focus, good ball distribution and the lack of teamwork turned to be their own downfall.
The falter by Dynamos saw other clubs such as Lancashire Steel, Shooting Stars, Chapungu United and the club of the moment Masvingo United to continue to maintain the clean sheet.
For Lengthens, it was a sweet display clinching a point away from home. It was indeed a sweet point taken away from a big club such as Dynamos.
If Lengthens continues to maintain the momentum, the Harare team is likely to avoid relegation at the end of the premiership season.
Masvingo United – 0 – Mwana Africa
HARARE – Masvingo United were held to a goalless draw by the much fancied Mwana Africa in a tightly contested CBZ premiership played Trojan Mine Stadium in Bindura.
Masvingo United settled for a goalless draw with the nickel and diamond miners, a positive result that has seen the Taurai Mangwiro coached boys clung to the second position on top of the premiership log league standings.
Defending champions Highlanders are breathing fire and brimstone following their beating of supercharged Shooting Stars 1-0 at Gwanzura Stadium on Saturday, propelling the Mathembe Ndlovu to top of the league.
The victory by Bosso as Highlanders are affectionately called, left the race wide open between them and serious title contenders Masvingo United.
Masvingo United, who are on a rebuilding exercise after losing most of its key players late last year are proving to be serious contenders for the championship alongside Highlanders.
Ovidy Karurur, Saprian Muchabaya, Tafadzwa Dube and David Mutale are in terrific form and it appears there is nothing that could stop the busmen from taking the premiership league to the wire.
On the other hand, Highlanders are proving to be real champions as they are always winning both home and away.
Motor Action – 1 – Lancashire Steel
KWEKWE – Lowly-rated Motor Action produced some scintillating performance on Sunday when they held the much fancied Lancashire Steel at their own home backyard at Baghdad Stadium.
The Harare premiership approached Sunday’s encounter with passion for success and it came as no surprise when the Mighty Bulls pulled a goal down to force a draw.
Had it not been for their stand-in-coach Prince Matore who fumbled the ball inside his goal area, Motor Action could have beaten Lancashire Steel.
The fumbled ball by Matore fell on the path of industrious midfielder Simon Chipunza, who reacted with pace to rifle home from close range.
However, the goal did not dampen the Mighty Bulls’ spirited fighting as they came back from the slumber a more focussed side.
Motor Action were rewarded in the 9th minute when Salim Malanzi powered home with a ferocious header. It was the fanciful works of midfielder Clemence Matawu and Edward Tembo who initiated the equalising goal.
Antipodeans
steal honours
BY JOHN HUGHES
CRICKET WRITER
FOUR Australians and a New Zealander stole the honours in the latest round of County Championship matches in England.
Bradley Hodge, Lancashire’s Aussie batsman, led the way with an unbeaten 156 against Kent at Old Trafford, while 36-year-old compatriot Andy Bichel, batting at N.8 for Essex, slammed 102 against Middlesex at Lord’s.
Table-toppers Durham were indebted to an innings of 124 by Michael di Venuto, the Australian opener from Tasmania, in a total of 283 at Southampton where Aussie legend Shane Warne took 6-83 for Hampshire.
Andy Caddick, 38-year-old New Zealand-born former England paceman, took a remarkable 7-30 as Somerset shot out Gloucestershire for 121 at Bristol.
* Ian Botham, 51, one of England’s all-time greats, has been awarded a knighthood for his services to cricket and to raising money for charity.
BRIEFS
Dibango ‘unveiled’
JOHANNESBURG – Former Zimbabwe international striker, Ian Gorowa, and newly appointed Moroka Swallows coach, is set to be unveiled as the team’s mentor this week. A club official said Dibango, as Gorowa was affectionately known in his heyday, would assume work in the last week of June in time for preparations for the forthcoming season.
He replaces SuperSport United bound Gavin Hunt. “He has the qualifications to restore the glamour of Swallows. Management have faith in him,” added the official.
Gorowa holds a UEFA Coaching licence. – CAJ News
Football boosted
HARARE – Football is set to benefit by US$25,000 under the Olympic Solidarity Fund. Robert Mutsauki, the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee chief executive said a request by ZOC to the Olympic Solidarity Fund had received a positive response with the release of US$25,000. The project, tentatively scheduled to run from July to September, will see the Ghanaian coach and administrator Ben Koufie bouncing back onto the Zimbabwean football scene for a period of three months. Mutsauki said the fund is meant to ensure that issues of junior development, football academies, tertiary institutions and clubs are properly co-ordinated. – CAJ News
Sponsors pull out
HARARE – Several sponsors have pulled out of the Premier Soccer League, leaving it with only two. Sponsors who have not recommitted this season are AN Chemicals, which bankrolled the Players’ Player of the Month award; Straitia Investments, a liquor company which sponsored the Top Goal Scorer of the Month through one of their brands Explorer Brand; Mailnet, which sponsored the Coach of the Month; Zimmidas, a motor spare-parts company which bankrolled the Goalkeeper of the Month; and Drawcard, an egg supplying company which sponsored the Best Defence of the Month of award. The league’s television rights deal with SuperSport has also failed to materialise. Kennedy Ndebele, PSL’s secretary general, confirmed that the status quo. He said the league would soon unveil new sponsors at special meeting set for mid-July. The pullout of the sponsors has been attributed to the harsh economic condition prevailing in the country. All the awards carried a $50m cash prize. The PSL is now left with two major sponsors – CBZ who have poured in $600m into the league, and Nestle Zimbabwe which signed a deal to sponsor the Champion of Champions Charity Shield for the next three years.
Post published in: Zimbabwe Sports News