The ManicaPost
ESTEEMED followers of the game of football, thank you for finding time for interaction.
Typical of this flagship fixture, last Sunday’s Battle of Zimbabwe between Dynamos and Highlanders had virtually all the hallmarks of what has come to characteristically define this contest that it was only befitting it generated several talking points whose echoes continue to reverberate across this great land between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers almost a week after the final whistle.
Goals. Incident-filled. Exciting. Tactful. Questionable officiating. Controversy. Mini scuffles. And, of course, an expulsion.
While the battle within a battle between Dynamos striker Christian Epoupa Ntouba and Highlanders defender Peter Muduhwa was undoubtedly the major highlight of this game, with the former getting red-carded during a moment of madness in the heat of battle during which he head-butted the latter, there were numerous other interesting subplots to this intriguing clash.
The hosts racing into an early first half lead and the visitors powering on to turn the tide in the second stanza and duly earning an equaliser; Bosso bossing their way with dominance that probably merited a set of full points. The Bulawayo giants’ Dutch coach Erol Akbay proving to be a masterful tactician as he overshadowed his opposite number, Lloyd Mutasa, in a battle of tactical wits.
A game that made a huge mockery of current form: Dynamos had won their last six straight games, while Highlanders had suffered four consecutive defeats.
While DeMbare’s imperious form was being halted, Bosso were arresting their own slide. Each set of players always trying to get the other into the trouble of the referee’s little black book so as to disrupt the opponent’s normal game so they lose that aggressive edge.
Then those instances when the man in the middle could have done much better, with his whistle: like allowing Highlanders players off the hook even as they played it dirty and rough on Ntouba and cautioning Highlanders striker Godfrey Makaruse for simulation yet there was contact when he fell under challenge.
Ntouba continues to blaze a trail with his goal-scoring form with a trademark poacher’s strike typifying his predatory instincts in the box. The Cameroonian gunslinger making and leaving another mark again in the Glamour Boys’ two biggest matches of any season in quick succession after putting CAPS United to the sword only the previous week.
And then Ntouba’s pent-up frustration finally exploding as he planted his head into Muduhwa’s face!
Muduhwa looking like playing it “smarter” on Ntouba as he threw the striker off balance with that provocation which earned the DeMbare goalscorer his marching orders.
The defender employing to good use the similar trick he pulled on former Makepekepe forward Leonard Tsipa as he also saw red last season at Barbourfields.
So, just to share with Friday Football Echoes, what did you find most fascinating about last Sunday’s Battle of Zimbabwe, dear reader?
With the Battle of Harare upon us again this weekend, are we likely to get treated to another humdinger and have more spills and thrills served?
It’s Game On, Play On!
Feedback:
No team should be fast-tracked to win the league title; the best team should just win the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League trophy.
What is the purpose of having a referee officiate a game in the first place when there are those who can still make the final decisions after the matches?
The truth cannot be bought with 30 pieces of silver – what is wrong can never be right, what is bad can never be good. It is never about who, from where and of what colour; we have to condemn what is senseless to protect our football. – Richard Mahuhushe Chauke
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