Dynamos coach Tonderai Ndiraya has refused to throw in the towel, despite seeing his charges dropping two crucial points following their 1-1 draw with a determined Black Rhinos in a week 27 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League encounter played at Vhengere Stadium on Sunday afternoon in Rusape.

By Hector Chifamba recently in Rusape

Emmanuel Paga scored for Dembare with 45 seconds on the clock with the usually reliable Tymon Mvula making a school boy error in the 90th minute to gift Chauya Chipembere a goal.

The stalemate puts Tonderai Ndiraya’s charges eight points behind log leaders FC Platinum who collected maximum points with their 2-1 win away at Hwahwa yesterday.

Dembare had a dream start when Emmanuel Paga scored inside the opening minute when he was on the end of a sleek move that was initiated as soon as man in the middle Brighton Chimene blew the first whistle.

The move that included Ralph Kawondera and Evans Katema was virtually the first attack of the game which caught the Rhinos defence flat footed to give them the advantage.

Dembare who were using the long ball had opportunities to surge ahead but Paga and Katema were often not clinical enough upfront.

Despite going down early Chauya Chipembere broke out of their shell as they tried to creep back into the game.

Eli Ilunga saw his effort just outside the box on the 20th minute tipped over by an alert Tymon Mvula.

The interval came with the visitors carrying the narrow lead.

Soon after the break Black Rhinos head coach made introduced the trio Everson Feremba, Allen Gahadzikwa and Philip Gweva.

This change brought the verve to the Chauya Chipembere attack as Gahadzikwa proved to be missing link.

Gahadzikwa brought composure in the middle of the park as he found the empty pockets inside the final third.

Dynamos were now defending deep and relying more on counter attacks as Chauya Chipembere had pitched camp inside their final third.

With everything towards a Dembare win, goalkeeper Tymon Mvula brewed a howler that he would quickly want to forget.

He provided salvation for Chauya Chipembere when he parried into the goal a Farai Banda cross in the 90th minute.

However despite the fading championship charge, Dynamos head coach Tonderai Ndiraya refused to give up yet.

“There are still 21 points to play for.

“If it was two or three games left I was going to probably say it was over but there are still 7 games to be played and we still have some chances.

“We just have to go back and reorganize ourselves and move forward,” said Ndiraya.

On the game he said that they knew that Black Rhinos were going to be tricky customers.

“We knew it was always going to be a difficult game for us.

“I thought we started well in the first half scoring early in the first 45 seconds.

“Obviously in those situations players tend to drop in terms of concentration.

“Perhaps when you think you should increased our tally in the first half, I thought we got chances in the first half to kill off the game but we didn’t and naturally the second half was going to be difficult for us obviously because of the condition of the pitch and the way Black Rhinos play, they brought in three strong strikers and they were tossing the ball to those three center forwards.

“Our defence had done really well to to defend those long balls and I think it was unfortunate to Tymon to make that mistake and concede that goal.

“But that is football, I think we had really managed the game well and we conceded in the critical moments of the game which is part of the game,” added Ndiraya.

His opposite member Stanford’Stix’ Mutizwa was pleased with how his charges picked themselves up having conceded early.

“In the beginning I think we conceded an early goal which I think unsettled us and changed the game plan.

“When we came back in the second half we were a changed side.

“The boys are responding very well and I am pleased with the unity and dedication they showed today,” said Mutizwa.

On playing a hand in the title jigsaw where Chauya Chipembere collected a total of five points from the teams in the title race Mutizwa added that he hopes his charges maintain the form as they push for a top six finish.

Sunday’s draw with Dembare follows the 1 all stalemate away at Mandava with FC Platinum and the 2-1 triumph against Chicken Inn a few weeks ago.

“I hope we continue with the same spirit and what we have done today is now the past, we are now looking forward to the next game.

“We need to collect maximum points so that we reach where we are aiming to be which is sixth or fourth,” said Mutizwa.

sportbrief