Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Mtulisi Mafa
6 October 2008
Harare — DYNAMOS came crashing down to earth as Cameroonian giants Cotonsport stole away a crucial lead in this Caf Champions League soccer semi-final, first leg clash at Rufaro yesterday.
The visitors were sent on the winning road early in the first half when Niger international Daouda Kamilou smashed a firm header past a stranded Dynamos goalkeeper Zondai Nyaungwa following some sloppy marking by the home side's defence.
The defeat will now complicate Dynamos' Champions League final dreams as Cotonsport showed enough character and some class about them.
The two sides will clash in the second leg in Cameroon in a fortnight and Dynamos will have to perform much better than they did yesterday.
The loss virtually shattered the hopes of a nation that had been in a buoyant mood following Dynamos' fine run in the Champions League.
They had hoped to leave Rufaro with the same kind of happiness they enjoyed when Dynamos saw off Egyptian giants Zamalek to reach the semi-finals.
But there was no such kind of mood as Cotonsport claimed a crucial lead they will take back home.
There is no doubt that Dynamos' fine run in the Champions League has attracted so much attention and yesterday former South Africa national team coach Jomo Sono flew in to watch the match.
But DeMbare once again broke the hearts of many with a disappointing display that left many wondering whether it was the same side that they have been watching in the same competition.
DeMbare did not seriously test Cotonsport goalminder Kassaly Daouda all afternoon and they must be cursing themselves after failing to put away a deluge of scoring chances.
Dynamos had been dealt a body blow when star midfielder Justice Majabvi pulled out of the tie due to a hamstring injury in the build-up to the match.
Coach David Mandigora then reshuffled his pack and thrusted defender Thomas Sweswe in midfield alongside Carrington Gomba.
But midfield duties were just too much for as Sweswe never looked comfortable carrying that load though he really tried his best at times.
The home side struggled to keep up with the pace as Cotonsport showed some clever movement on and off the ball, often opening up Dynamos so cheaply.
Yet Dynamos, with so much expectations from a nation that has endured so much pain at the hands of the Warriors, had given the crowd so much hope in the manner they set off on the battlefield.
The match was just eight minutes old when Benjamin Marere caused a major scare for the West Africans when he broke out in the box as Kassaly raced off the line.
Marere looked to have succeeded in rounding off the goalkeeper, but he pushed the ball far too much and Kassaly had already tightened the angle and the ball just rolled out.
Dynamos showed Cotonsport the sort of afternoon they would be have and only two minutes later Sweswe somehow flashed a free header over off a fine delivery from a corner by Reuben Mhlanga.
But Cotonsport responded well to the Dynamos attacks with an impressive passing game that silenced the bumper crowd at Rufaro.
They were just too dangerous and had the ball in the back of the nets, illegal though, as the captain, Ahmadou Ngomna Eboa, had used his hand in the build-up and was duly yellow-carded for the offence.
But it wasn't long before they got a breakthrough, their goal arriving on 32 minutes after Kamilou stole in to smash in the opener with a fine header.
The goal seemed to sap the home side's energy, the crowd seemed to have been force-marched into the library.
The visitors were finding more space as Dynamos' game was punctuated with so many errors as stray passes dominated.
Cotonsport's hunger grew by the minute and the brilliant Sanda Oumarou was just a bag of snakes whenever in possession.
Oumarou's talents definitely deserve a better league and this could be the last days for him at Cotonsport.
As usual, Dynamos captain Murape Murape fought so hard that one could clearly see the determination in him and was ably supported in that regard by an outstanding Lovemore Mapuya.
The second period brought nothing new from the home side and coach Mandigora rang some changes, bringing in Desmond Maringwa for Marere.
Maringwa's appearance was his first since he got injured soon after the Etoile du Sahel game at Gwanzura.
His arrival brought some life into Gomba as he was now servicing the left channel.
He saw more of the ball and used it very well, thrashing in a couple of crosses that were, however, put to waste.
Dynamos then got a good chance to level the score when Brighton Tuwaya flighted in a clever ball but Murape pushed over from about a metre out.
But the best chance came to Phillip Marufu when he was picked out by Maringwa with a fine cross.
Marufu just didn't put some power into his diving header, directing wide from close range.
It was a very good chance and no one expected him to miss.
A late rally yielded nothing as Dynamos either rushed their efforts or simply could not convert.
Mandigora was obviously disappointed by the manner in which his players approached the match but refused to throw in the towel, insisting that they are still in it.
"We just didn't play well today, our players were lacking confidence and I just couldn't understand their attitude.
"Maybe they were too complacent because if you compare with our last match, today was just disappointing.
"But we will go there (to Cameroon for the second leg) with a positive attitude. We always play to win and that's what we will be fighting for."
Cotonsport coach Ouombleon Alain pointed out that he expects a tough second leg despite claiming a crucial away win.
"We are very happy to win this match, but we know Dynamos are a very good team. They play very well away from home and we expect that in the second leg. They pressured us in the second half and the road to the final is still very long
"But we deserved to score because we played well in attack," he said.
Teams
Dynamos: Z. Nyaungwa; L. Mapuya; R. Mhlanga; B. Tuwaya; S. Mutenheri; T. Sweswe; C. Gomba; B. Marere (D. Maringwa 67th minute); P. Marufu (D. Shoko 82nd minute); M. Murape (L. Muhoni 80th minute).
Cotonsport : K. Daouda; L. Abdoul Karim; K. Ndzana; B. Makadji; A. Eboa; D. Kamilou; S. Oumarou (J. Mendona 86th minute); B. Ousmaila; H. Pierre Minka; Z. Daogari; G Marcellain.
Dynamos .....................................................................(0) 0 Cotonsport...................................................................(1) 1
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