DeMbare rise from the ashes: Paga’s poacher instin...

DeMbare rise from the ashes: Paga’s poacher instinct seals hard-fought victory

Philemon Jambaya

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Dynamos, the once indomitable Glamour Boys of Zimbabwean football, found a flicker of their former glory yesterday at Rufaro Stadium.

Their struggle this season, a solitary win amidst a sea of draws and defeats, threatened to dim their legendary flame. Yet, a Ghanaian knight in shining armour, Emmanuel Paga, emerged from the substitutes’ bench to deliver a vital goal, gifting Dynamos their second win and reigniting hope in the hearts of their faithful.

The match against TelOne crackled with tension. Dynamos, haunted by the ghosts of a sluggish start - one win in six prior matches - desperately clawed for a foothold. The air thrummed with the anxieties of a fanbase accustomed to dominance. A draw seemed inevitable, a bitter pill to swallow on home turf.

But then, with just twelve minutes remaining, Paga, a predator unleashed from the confines of the bench, seized his moment. His strike, a poacher’s dream, pierced the TelOne defence, shattering the shackles of their containment and etching his name into the lore of this hard-fought encounter.

This victory, more than just three points, was a balm for the wounds of a struggling Dynamos. Coach Genesis Mangombe, burdened by the weight of expectation, finally exhaled a sigh of relief. “We craved a win at Rufaro,” he confessed, his voice thick with emotion. “This will revive the boys’ spirit. Dynamos are synonymous with winning, and we must reclaim our home turf as a fortress of glory. Breaking the scoring jinx at Rufaro is a massive boost.”

Mangombe, however, acknowledged the pressure that had gnawed at him. “The league is a relentless marathon,” he said. “A coach thrives on victories, and their absence builds a stifling pressure. It’s particularly challenging at a club like Dynamos, where results are paramount. But this win is a testament to the team’s resilience.”

TelOne coach, Tendai Chikuni rued his team’s inability to contain the resurgent Dynamos. “Our midfield was overrun in the first half,” he admitted. “They exploited the flanks with relentless attacks. Dynamos squandered numerous chances, but Paga’s goal, scored with minimal pressure, is a testament to their predatory instincts.”

The win may be a solitary step on the long road to redemption, but for Dynamos, it is a step nonetheless. The embers of their past glory have been rekindled, and under the watchful eye of their fans, they hope to fan those embers into a blazing inferno once more.