HWANGE.............0
DYNAMOS.......... (0) 1
DYNAMOS began their 2023 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League campaign on a winning note after seeing off Hwange in a lukewarm encounter at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday.
Substitute Tinashe Makanda got the solitary goal to ensure the Glamour Boys began life under new head coach Hebert Maruwa with a crucial win.
It was a game DeMbare could have won in the first half, but they waited until the 69th minute after coach Maruwa brought in Denver Mukamba for Arthur Musiyiwa in the 65th minute and Makanda a minute later.
Mukamba made an instant impact as he dazzled three Chipangano defenders on the left before finding an unmarked Makanda, who made no mistake with a screamer which left the coalminers’ goalkeeper Nedrick Madeya a confused spectator.
Maruwa was elated by the victory away from home.
"It’s a good start. It was always going to be very difficult playing Hwange away from home, but I am happy we got that win. It's a process and I'm impressed with the boys. We played possession football and it was good," Maruwa said.
His counterpart Nation Dube was disappointed with the defeat and said that his side would need some time to settle on their return to the top-flight league.
"It was our first game. The boys are young. It was their first game playing at this level of football. I can’t say that things were that bad, we will come right. That goal came from a lapse of concentration from the boys, but for now I can't complain. It's work in progress," Dube said.
Mind games from Hwange goalkeeper Madeya and Dynamos manager Richard Chihoro hogged the limelight before the start of the second half with some juju theatrics at the goalmouth in the Mpilo End, leading to some unruly fans invading the pitch.
Dynamos dominated the early exchanges with Musiyiwa hitting the side net after collecting a pass from Tendaishe Matindife before striker Eli Ilunga watched his header from inside the penalty box go wide from an Emmanuel Jalai cross on the right.
Hwange's opportunity at goal came in the 22nd minute as Shepard Gadzikwa came to the end of a long searching ball and set up Thabani Goredema whose effort was safely collected by goalkeeper Taimon Mvula.
But two minutes later, Dynamos was back on the offensive; a close call for striker Emmanuel Paga, who missed a sitter after goalkeeper Bedrock Madeya spilled the ball into his path.
TEAMS
Hwange: N Madeya, K Shiyandindi, G Gumbo, E Zulu, B Mlotshwa, T Goredema, S Sithole (E Gwitima 57'), B Ngoma (K Nasama 73'), C Nkomo (E Nkulungo S Gahadzikwa, J Chivasa (I Makopa 73')
Dynamos: T Mvula, E Moyo, K Moyo, A Musiyiwa (D Mukamba 65'), F Makarati, D Mudadi, E Jalai, T Madindife (J Makunike 83'), E Paga (T Makanda 66'), E Ilunga, T Shandirwa