The ManicaPost
ESTEEMED followers of the game of football, thank you for finding time for interaction.Since its advent, social media has become kind of a staple in our lives as we consume a fair share its dosage on a daily basis. While at times it is not a reliable and credible source of information each time it goes into overdrive spewing news and information, it has nonetheless made the world go round.
As such, following the events that characterised the gripping Harare Derby between title-chasing CAPS United and stuttering giants Dynamos the social media was momentarily abuzz with allegations that the match between the two sworn enemies had been fixed so as to give MaKepeKepe an unfair advantage in their pursuit of the championship. The manner in which DeMbare surrendered a cushioned 3-0 lead in the closing minutes to allow their opponents to force a 3-3 draw brewed all the hullaballoo.
Looking at things in their proper perspective and trying to make sense of what could actually lend credence to the suspicion that DeMbare gave the game away, more questions than answers have emerged when it actually should be the other way round.
First, CAPS United’s financial frailties have so much been well-documented this season that where and how would they have suddenly found the wherewithal to grease the palms of an opponent to have a match thrown their way?
Have we forgotten that their coach Lloyd Chitembwe has been on record as saying that a lack of fiscal stamina had greatly hamstrung them in oiling the Green Machine for the campaign that had their coffers been bountiful they would have long raced out of sight in the title race? Well, perhaps only if what the monetary rewards they stand to reap from eventually winning the championship outweigh what they “paid” DeMbare would the end justify the means!
Second, this is not the first time that Chitembwe’s charges have come from behind, overturning a losing situation to grind out positive results – with the ZPC Kariba and How Mine matches being cases in point.
Additionally, this was not the first difficult or tricky game CAPS United have been involved in this season that should we suspect them of having sought favours from opponents over what has been of this season so far – the last 27 games?
With the way Dynamos coach Lloyd Mutasa and team manager Richard Chihoro leapt jubilantly each time DeMbare scored as did assistant coach Murape Murape see red for encroaching onto the field in wild celebrations, could they have been just putting up appearances to cover for the underhand dealings of having fixed the match?
Also, if the outcome of the Harare Derby was pre-determined as was alleged, then striker Roderick Mutuma would have deliberately missed that simple tap-in for DeMbare’s opener just so he goes along with the conspiracy.
If the match was, indeed, fixed, then DeMbare would not have raced into that seemingly comfortable lead because there was no guarantee that MaKepeKepe would claw their back and earn a draw because the script would be upset.
If Dynamos had thrown away the game, then their goalkeeper Ashley Reyners would have not made those crucial saves in the first half.
Unless if it is to suggest that only a few players in the blue stripes – maybe one, two, or three – were targeted and connived to plot against their team.
Yours Truly’s considered and humble submission is that if there should be any allegations of match-fixing raised, then CAPS United must be investigated for playing without a goalkeeper – for Jorum Muchambo was a huge liability in the game and badly at fault for the first and third goals his team conceded.
Interestingly, when Highlanders rallied back to defeat Dynamos 2-1 in a league encounter recently, was that game and its outcome decidedly prearranged as well?
Besides, this was a derby between two eternal rivals and by its very nature it is punctuated by thrills, spills, twists, turns and agony that in the end we had an exhilarating thriller with a six-pack of goals.
This was one game that the hosts had a lot and everything to fight for, a two-pronged mission so to speak – from staying into contention for the title with a good result to protecting their unbeaten home record – and they were just up for it and stepped to the plate.
We just have to give it to the Green Machine and it is difficult to disagree with their coach Lloyd Chitembwe that there has been something special about this squad as they have shown character and quality for much of this term.
It has been a truly remarkable season for MaKepeKepe, especially against the backdrop of the off-the-field drama that has blighted their season – one of whose low points was their elimination from the Chibuku Super Cup by lowly Tsholotsho when kickoff was delayed by half-an-hour as the players staged a sit-in their team bus in protest over outstanding dues
Surely, it has been an extraordinary season in which the old legs of veteran forward Leonard Tsipa have propelled him to the top of the goal-scoring charts while also driving the cause of his team forward.
DeMbare just grew complacent as they were flattered by the score line. Or how can one explain two of their players Masimba Mambare and Tawanda Macheke feigning injuries in quick succession just to wind down the clock when the team was defending set-pieces?
While Mutasa might have got his substitutions horribly wrong, his opposite number Chitembwe’s were spot on as they added more attacking impetus that was duly rewarded with the goals which eventually earned them the draw.
DeMbare have had a hugely troubled season and Sunday’s meltdown mirrored just how miserable they have been at times this season.
On the other hand, CAPS United have been doing it the hard way and their earned point on Sunday was value of their exertions.
It’s Game On, Play On!
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