Dynamos, Highlanders Wallop Minors in League Games
Dembare beat Bantu Rover 3-1 while Highlanders walloped Chiredzi 3-0 at Chishamiso Stadium
HARARE — Dynamos on Monday saved future of coach Kalisto Pasuwa job at a time Liverpool are moving closer to the Barclays Premiership title in the English Premier League. Dynamos, popularly known as Glamour Boys, cruised to a convincing 3-1 victory over Bantu Rovers to save the future of their under fire coach Pasuwa after the popular Harare side lost their past two matches. Goals from Sydney Linyama, Devon Chafa and Augustine Mbara have seen the 1998 CAF Champions League finalists move to six points up, just a point behind joint leaders Hwange, Highlanders, and ZPC Kariba who are on seven points after Hwange failed to capitalize on home advantage following a one-all draw against visiting Triangle at the Colliery Stadium. Debate had been the order of the day on social media sites on whether Dynamos should keep Pasuwa after they lost 1-0 to ZPC Kariba which was followed by the Independence Trophy final loss at the hands of FC Platinum. However, after Monday’s matches Highlanders who hammered Moses Chunga’s Chiredzi 3-0 at Chishamiso Stadium and ZPC Kariba who overcame Harare City 1-0 at Gwanzura Stadium are log leader and Highlanders is on top, courtesy of a superior goal difference. The Bulawayo giants have not conceded a goal since the premiership started - playing a goalless draw against Chapungu before 3-0 wins over Shabanie and Monday over Chiredzi. Caps United’s Green Machine failed to capitalize on home advantage to join the leaders after they were also held to a goalless draw by Buffaloes in a match the Green Machine dominated but missed countless chances. What had been earmarked to be a happy welcome for returning director Farai Jere turned out to be nothing but disappointment as chance after chance went begging. Coach Taurayi Mangwiro could not believe the final result. Even Buffaloes coach Luke Masomere also admits that Caps United had the better of the exchanges but is happy that his team collected a point away from home as they brace for a ZPC Kariba visit this coming weekend. The match between the two teams, however, was spoiled after Caps players allegedly urinated on the Buffaloes bench alleging it contained juju that was making them fail to convert their numerous attempts at goal. Not only did the Buffaloes players spend the rest of the game sitting on cooler boxers but a container containing urine was also thrown at the Buffaloes goal. Although Masomere refused to discuss this issue, Premier Soccer League Chief Executive Officer Kennedy Ndebele condemned these actions saying the PSL was investigating the matter, adding that whoever is found on the wrong side of the law would be disciplined. While the Zimbabwean soccer premiership race is still in its infancy, Liverpool are sailing towards the Barclays Premiership title after opening a five point lead over Chelsea whose title challenge is faltering by the day. With only three games left, the Reds who hit three goals past Norwich in a 3-2 win, are on 80 points compared to the Blues’ 75 but the two teams have a score to settle when Chelsea visit Liverpool at Anfield this weekend. Apart from the game against Chelsea this coming weekend, Liverpool will be away to Crystal Palace and will finish their programme at home against Newcastle but those could be an academic encounter should they beat Jose Mourino side. However, Liverpool manager Brendan Rogers is excited by his team’s performance and is targeting a 100 goal haul after having so far scored 96 with three more games still to play. However, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger thinks Liverpool had it easy as they were not taking part in the Champions League nor the Europa League as they had to focus on the premiership only. Arsenal are in fourth place on 71 points and battling with Everton who are a point behind for that remaining fourth Champions League place. In third place are Manchester City who are way off the pace on 71 points but have two games in hand, one of which is against West Bromwich Albion on Monday evening. Defending champions Manchester United, arguably the most supported foreign team in Zimbabwe, are way off the title chasing pack in seventh position with 57 points after losing out 2-0 to Everton at Goodson Park, and are in danger of losing out even on a Europa League place. The Barclays Premier League and the Spanish La Liga have a large following in Zimbabwe to the extent that some know more about English football than they do of their own local teams.