HARARE - Castle Premiership newcomers ZPC Kariba stole a dramatic last-minute win over defending champions Dynamos here on Sunday to continue their dream start to life in the Zimbabwean top-flight league.
The Kariba-based side has astonishingly defied the worst possible preparations for their PSL debut, with their participation in the league having hanged in the balance with just a week before the season started due to uncertainty over availability of funds from sponsor Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC).
In their opening match against CAPS United last weekend, ZPC shook off weeks of poor preparations to hold the former champions one all, even having the temerity of taking the lead through Pride Tafirenyika early in the game before Dominic Chungwa helped save United’s blushes with a late equaliser.
And with such unfortunate preparations for life in the country’s premier football division, the fixtures, too, seemed to conspire against the debutants.
On Sunday, it was record champions Dynamos’ turn to give ZPC a tough initiation. It was not to be.
Artwell Nyamiwa rose from the bench for grab ZPC Kariba’s late winner.
The goal was ZPC Kariba’s first serious attempt at goal having played second fiddle to Dynamos, who had dominated for the better part of the game but failed to turn their dominance into goals.
For the whole game ZPC Kariba were pinned in their own half but their back four, well marshalled by Norman Togara, stood firm.
“We didn’t have aggression as we missed a number of chances. We now need to work on our strikeforce,” Dynamos coach Calisto Pasuwa said after the match.
“I thought we were unfortunate to lose this game. We were in control of the match and we missed three various chances that could have seen us go ahead,” Pasuwa said.
ZPC Kariba coach Saul Chaminuka praised his players.
“We prepared our season in difficult conditions but we have surpassed expectations so far,” Chaminuka told reporters after the match.
“The boys played very well. This result gives us confidence going forward. They had their chances and we also had ours and fortunately for us we managed to convert one of ours”
Powered by the impressive midfielder Ronaldo Chitiyo, Dynamos controlled the game during the first minutes of the game.
Chitiyo, who was handed a free role in the midfield, was the hub from which DeMbare initiated a lot of their moves.
Dynamos striker Patrick Khumbula was the chief culprit as he blew a couple of good chances that could have given his side some breathing space during the first half.
After the breather the tempo had increased slightly but Dynamos continued to waste chances.
The Dynamos technical department then decided to bring in Oscar Machapa for the less effective Cliff Sekete and the move seemed to work.
The Harare giants were duly punished a minute into injury time after Nyamiwa received a cross from the right flank before firing a shot past Dynamos goalkeeper George Chigova.