DeMbare fits the Bill

By The Standard and Newsday | Mar. 14, 2022 | 4 Min read

The winger was involved in all his team’s three goals as Dynamos made light work of the challenge.

BY HENRY MHARA

DYNAMOS . . . . . . . . . . (1)3

TENAX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

DYNAMOS coach Tonderai Ndiraya was full of praise for young Bill Antonio after his impressive performance helped the Harare giants cruise past Tenax at the National Sports Stadium in Harare yesterday.

The winger was involved in all his team’s three goals as Dynamos made light work of the challenge.

Martin Ofori turned in an Antonio’s cross on his debut for the home side’s opener after just five minutes, but Tenax responded to the early setback with Joel Munsakag finishing off a brilliant team move for the visitors on 28th minute.

Emmanuel Paga restored Dynamos’ lead on 62nd minute after getting on the end of Antonio’s clever lay-off to beat Tenax goalkeeper.

Six minutes later, Ralph Kawondera secured the three points for DeMbare when he tapped in following yet another precise pass from the 18-year-old former Prince Edward High School student.

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“I must give it to young Bill Antonio, he was so outstanding. All the goals we scored today came from his end. He had a brilliant game today and I hope he can keep the consistency,” said Ndiraya, who felt his team could have scored eight goals, had they been precise in front of goal yesterday.

Antonio carried over from his brilliant performance last week when he came on as a substitute and scored the clincher in the 2-0 win over Bulawayo Chiefs.

“Today he was again the difference between us and Tenax so I’m happy for him, for the team and for the supporters. Slowly, we are getting to be ourselves and hopefully we can keep the consistency.”

Antonio, who was deservedly named Man of the Match, refused to take the glory.

“There is no ‘I’ in the word team so I just want to shout out to my teammates for supporting me and giving me the passes that managed us to get the three points,” Antonio said.

Tenax coach Shadreck Mugurasave, whose team was on a three-match unbeaten streak, admitted the better side won yesterday.

“My boys played very well, but in the end I was disappointed because we gave them three soft goals. But I should give it to Dynamos, they played well and deserved victory.

“We have to work with the general principle of defending because if you want to stay in the league, you can’t afford to concede such kinds of goals,” Mugurasave said.

Dynamos, looking to make it two straight wins following their win in Bulawayo last week, got a perfect start to the match when Ofori swept home a cross from Antonio which had eluded a host of legs before it reached the Ghanaian.

It was his first game since he joined the side two months ago, and a dream start to life at Dynamos.

The midfielder missed a chance to grab a brace moments later when he was put through by his compatriot. He shot wide with the keeper to beat.

Having fallen behind, the Mutare side worked their way back into the game. A neat exchange of passes released Carlos Musimwa, but instead of going for goal from a good range, he spread the ball wide to find Munsaka.

It looked like the chance had gone begging, but the striker charged towards goal, turning defender Patson Jaure inside out in the process before riffling into the left top corner with a sweet left foot shot.

Dynamos tried to respond immediately, with Paga’s flashing header going just wide before Antonio beat Tenax goalkeeper Phillip Makumi for pace to the ball, who had rushed off his line.

Antonio’s lack of experience saw him trying to pass responsibility instead of shooting into an empty net. His intended cross found the wrong head.

But he was incisive when the next chance fell to him. He twisted and turned inside the box leaving three markers in his wake before laying the ball for Paga whose first time shot beat Makumi.

Just after the hour mark, Antonio found substitute Evans Katema whose back heel nutmegged a defender into the path of Shadreck Nyahwa whose shot beat the keeper, but lacked the power to go all the way. Kawondera was at hand to help it over the line.

Highly-rated Junior Makunike was introduced late into the match and almost marked his debut with a goal, but his long range effort hit the crossbar.

The match had a sour ending after Joseph Jambo picked a head injury and was rushed to hospital in an ambulance.

The result saw Dynamos move third on the log table with 13 points, just three behind leaders Manica Diamonds after seven rounds of matches.

Tenax are on six points, just one point and one rung above the team sitting on the relegation cut-off point.

Teams:

Dynamos: T Mvula, B Mpofu (S Nyahwa, 63’), F Makarati, M Ofori, P Jaure, K Murera (Jnr Makunike, 63’), T Muringai, G Murwira, R Kawondera, E Paga (T Makanda, 63’), B Antonio (L Musikiri, 87’).

Tenax: P Makumi, T Zhakata, J Jambo, L Chakuamba, D Marara, C Musimwa, E Gavara (S Munemero, 66’), J Munsaka, M Dumbura (T Musiteyi, 66’), A Manyamba, T Mapara (V Mukudo, 38’).