Caps United…………… 0 Dynamos…………. (1) 1 SCORES of fans were frustrated away while quite a number stood outside the gates of Rufaro Stadium, trying in vain to gain entry as chaos took centre stage during the Bob91 Super Cup final between bitter Harare football rivals Caps United and Dynamos yesterday.
BY HENRY MHARA
Ronald Chitiyo, voted man of the match, scored a beauty for Dynamos just after the half-hour mark to decide the contest — a match which will, however, be forever remembered for the mayhem that rocked the entry points to the stadium before kick-off.
For some reason, a few gates were opened, frustrating fans trying desperately to gain entrance into the stadium.
Dynamos chairman Keni Mubaiwa was one of the many high-profile people, including journalists caught up in the meleé, and only managed to get access into the stadium after the match had already started.
That the match itself kicked off 30 minutes late gives a clear indication of how disorganised the event was.
Former Dynamos and Caps United midfielder Ashley Rambanapasi was almost bitten by a police dog as he forced his way into the stadium where he was supposed to be one of the pundits on national television.
Former Mighty Warriors defender Lilian Masase, with her two children, could not take the risk, and drove away.
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“This is too bad for our soccer. I can’t believe the organisation could be this poor,” she said before leaving.
Some fans took matters into their own hands and proceeded to scale the high security walls, while others took the menacing police officers head-on and forced themselves in.
Up to half-time, scores of some patient ones were still milling outside hoping for the best, but soon surrendered and went away.
Spokesperson for the tournament’s organising committee Charles Mabika last night apologised to the supporters for the chaos.
“It’s only proper for us to apologise for what happened, but it was caused by some of the malfunctioning gates. We were made to believe that 26 gates were functioning, only to find out that only 19 were working properly, and that slowed traffic. That was the reason why we had to delay the start of the match by almost 30 minutes,” Mabika said.
Inside the stadium, Dynamos finished the match with 10 men after Stephen Alimenda was sent off seven minutes into the second half by referee Nomore Musundire for a second bookable offence.
There was also chaos early on during the match as fans pelted Musundire over some decisions which they thought were poor.
Minutes after Chitiyo’s well-struck goal with his left foot just outside the box, the match had to be stopped for about three minutes as missiles rained into the stadium from the Vietnam stand.
The sending-off of Alimenda was also greeted by missiles from the Dynamos fans, another bad advertisement for local football.
Caps United fans, housed in the City End, also had their moments of madness later in the match when they threw missiles into the field of play protesting against Musundire who had awarded Dynamos a corner kick instead of a corner kick to their team.
Ironically, Caps and Dynamos fans had staged a march before the match to denounce hooliganism, aimed at Highlanders, only for themselves to turn into barbarians during the match.
Chances were far in between for both sides even after Dynamos had been reduced to 10 men.
In fact, it was the league champions who fashioned the best chance of the second half when substitute Simba Nhivi broke on a counter, but his shot was cleared off the line by Caps United defender Justice Jangano.
For their efforts, Dynamos got $40 000, while Caps United received $20 000 as consolation.
Highlanders, who lost to Caps United in the play-offs, got $10 000.
Teams: Caps United: V Twaliki, H Zvirekwi, R Pfumbidzai, D Mukambi, J Jangano, G Mangani (L Fiyado, 64’), M Muchenje (C Machisi, 73’), D Mukandi, T Mahori, R Mutuma, T Moyo (L Tsipa, 55’) Dynamos: A Mukandi, G Murwira, O Mushure, S Linyama, A Mbara, S Alimenda (red card, 52’), W Mukanga, Q Amini, R Chitiyo, K Bulaji (S Nhivi, 65’), D Chungwa (M Makopa, 55’)
