Mukamba the general

STAFF WRITER

Dynamos coach Kelvin Kaindu has saluted Denver Mukamba as a “commander on the field” after the mercurial midfielder came off the bench to smash home an 82nd-minute winner that floored title-chasing Scottland on Saturday and reignited both DeMbare’s survival fight and the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title race.

At a pulsating Rufaro Stadium, Dynamos turned relegation fears into renewed hope with a stunning 3-2 comeback that snapped Scottland’s seven-match winning streak and blew the championship race wide open.

For long stretches of the first half, it seemed the Harare giants were destined for another grim day. Tymon Machope’s 37th-minute header had Scottland fans already singing about an eighth straight victory.

The Mabvuku side arrived at Rufaro just one point behind Simba Bhora and looked every inch like champions-in-waiting.

But football, as the DeMbare faithful roared on Saturday, is never that simple.

Three minutes after the restart, Shadreck Nyahwa’s equaliser turned anxiety into belief.

By the 58th minute, when Vusa Ngwenya drilled home to put Dynamos ahead, the Mbare stands were trembling.

Scottland clawed back through Machope again, his seventh goal in four matches and with the match finely balanced at 2-2, the title contenders looked ready to walk away unscathed.

That was until Mukamba entered the stage.

Summoned from the bench, Mukamba strode into midfield with the air of a man on a mission.

Eight minutes from time, the veteran midfielder seized on a loose ball and unleashed a thunderous volley that ripped past the Scottland keeper, sending Rufaro into absolute chaos.

Kaindu, who has been under pressure for much of the season, could hardly contain his delight.

“This was a massive win for us, not just an ordinary one,” the Dynamos coach said afterwards.
“The team showed incredible character and determination. To beat a Scottland team that has been on a winning run shows we are building confidence.

“And Denver,  we knew if we gave him a chance, he could be a game-changer. He came on with the mentality of a commander and delivered the winning goal. He was our general today.”

For Scottland coach Tonderai Ndiraya, it was a sobering end to weeks of momentum.

“We knew Dynamos would bring intense energy, especially with their fans behind them, but we didn’t expect it to overwhelm us this much,” he admitted.
“Our performance was flat and casual; we never played to our usual standard.”

The result not only derailed Scottland’s surge but also reshaped the top of the table. With Simba Bhora stumbling to a draw in Chisumbanje, the title race has been thrown wide open.

In Chisumbanje, champions Simba Bhora staggered but clung onto top spot after a goalless stalemate with relegation-threatened GreenFuel.

The Shamva side were fortunate to escape with a point, their two-point lead preserved only by Scottland’s slip.

GreenFuel peppered their goal with chances,  Blessing Kagudu’s thunderbolt, Garikai Dematsika’s near miss and Clive Rupiya’s piercing runs, but somehow failed to score.

Coach Joel Luphahla was banished to the stands for dissent as Simba failed to muster a single shot on target. GreenFuel assistant coach Godfrey Tamirepi summed up the frustration:
“We really wanted an outright win. We were in control of the game and created a lot of good chances, but we couldn’t make sure the ball crossed the line.”

At Ngoni, MWOS ended a 57-day winless streak with a 2-1 win over Chicken Inn, dragging themselves back into the title conversation.

Everson Feremba, handed his first start of the season, scored inside the opening minute, before Arthur Banda sealed the victory in the second half. Chicken Inn briefly rallied through Michael Charamba, but their decline continued.

MWOS coach Lloyd Mutasa breathed relief:
“Obviously, it was a bad spell and at the end of the day we knew it was going to end.

But we never got it easy. We were playing against a team under the tutelage of my elder, Antipas, a good, experienced coach. But at least we managed to overcome.”

Antipas admitted his side are in trouble:
“Today was one of those bad days in the office. The results haven’t been good, especially away. But we need to put things right. We will definitely survive relegation.”

The Platinum Derby at Baobab ended in heartbreak for FC Platinum as Takunda Benhura struck in stoppage time to hand Ngezi Platinum Stars a 1-0 victory.

Ngezi coach Takesure Chiragwi praised his players’ resilience:
“We are now getting results because of our fighting spirit. Any slip-up means we go down, so we have to keep working as a team.”

The win lifted Ngezi to 46 points, keeping their championship hopes alive. FC Platinum remain stuck on 40 points, with one game in hand, but their grip on the race is loosening.

Elsewhere, TelOne produced the day’s most ruthless display, hammering Bikita Minerals 4-0 at Gibbo to solidify their top-four credentials. For the struggling lithium miners, it was yet another brutal reality check.

With seven games left, the PSL has been thrown into chaos.

Dynamos have shaken off the ghosts of relegation with a comeback that could define their season. Scottland have stumbled. Simba look shaky. Ngezi are rising.

And at the centre of it all, Denver Mukamba, hailed as a general by his coach, reminded Zimbabwean football that, even in his veteran years, he remains one of the league’s great match-winners.