Dynamos clinch Zimbabwe Premiership title

Dynamos 2-0 Kiglon; Shooting Stars 1-3 FC Platinum

DYNAMOS won their first Premier League title in four years on Sunday after a tense victory over Kiglon at Rufaro.
Rodreck Mutuma scored with the last kick of the first half but the win was not made secure until two minutes from time when Guthrie Zhokinyi nodded in David Kutyauripo’s free-kick.
Across town at Gwanzura, FC Platinum – level on points at the top – were hoping for a Dynamos slip-up or a bigger winning margin than their 3-1 victory to steal the title on the final day of the season.
Dynamos’ triumph marks a stunning turnaround under Callisto Pasuwa, who arrived at the club in August and found them third in the table – nine points adrift of joint leaders Platinum and Motor Action.
Pasuwa had just 11 games to turn it around – and Dynamos players responded by winning nine and drawing once with Hwange. Their only defeat since Pasuwa’s arrival as a replacement for the out-of-favour Lloyd Mutasa was a shock 1-0 defeat at Masvingo in October.
Before a bumper crowd at Rufaro, Dynamos made hard work of breaking down their already relegated opponents, their apprehension rising as Charles Sibanda headed Platinum into the lead at Gwanzura after 15 minutes.
On a day of changing emotions for fans, Dynamos players would have heard the huge roar that went round Rufaro as Ozil Mupumha levelled matters for Shooting Stars two minutes before the break. And as if to pile more halftime misery on Platinum, Mutuma beat the halftime whistle with his 14th league goal as Dynamos went ahead.
Platinum needed goals by the bagful in gthe second half to deny Dynamos their 19th league title. Rahman Gumbo rang the changes as he brought on Norman Maroto and William Manondo for Benjamin Marere and Ray Sibanda.
Platinum’s lead was restored 10 minutes after the break as Charles Sibanda’s run into the box was illegally ended by the stretched foot of Tafadzwa Mazunze. Menard Mupera converted the resultant penalty, and now Platinum needed five more goals to overturn Dynamos’ advantage.
With Kiglon refusing to lie down and let Dynamos march over them to their coronation, tension swept through Rufaro as groans greeted every misplaced pass and refereeing decision against their team.


But the feared goal blitz didn’t materialise at Gwanzura where it stayed 2-1 in favour of Platinum until the 84th minute when Mazunze beat his own goalkeeper with a diving header while attempting to cut off Norman Maroto’s cross.
It was too little too late and Zhokinyi’s second for Dynamos two minutes from fulltime secured the win which was celebrated late into the night in Harare.
In truth, Platinum had already conceded defeat after last week’s morale-sapping 1-0 defeat to Dynamos at Mandava, which will go down as the day they threw away a league title they should have sewn up several weeks ago.
Gumbo refused to answer reporters’ questions at the final whistle, but his club president Nathan Shoko said while disappointed, they were still happy with how their season had gone.
“We are already planning for 2012. We ended the season in second position tied on points and with a win. That is good enough for us in our first season. We have the Champions League to look forward to,” said Shoko.
This weekend also saw the relegation puzzle finally resolved with Masvingo becoming the fourth and final team to be relegated, joining Zimbabwe Saints, Kiglon and Shooting Stars.
Masvingo, who are coached by Ralph Kawondera, needed a draw against Monomotapa at Rufaro on Saturday to survive at the expense of Shabanie, but they went down 2-0 while the asbestos miners beat Highlanders 1-0 at Maglas.
Luke Masomere’s Shabanie and Masvingo finished level on 34 points, but they edged their neighbours on goal difference.

Taking their place in the top flight are Friday Phiri’s Beitbridge-based Tripple B, Harare City, Quelaton and Buffaloes.
Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Results
Sunday
Dynamos 2-0 Kiglon; Shooting Stars 1-3 FC Platinum
Saturday
Blue Ribbon 1-0 Chicken Inn; Zimbabwe Saints 0-0 CAPS United; Gunners 2-0 Hwange; Black Mambas 0-2 Motor Action; Shabanie Mine 1-0 Highlanders; Monomotapa 2-0 Masvingo United