Herald
Monday, 21 March 2011
From Robson Sharuko in KOLKATA, India
DELIRIOUS Dynamos fans turned to the social media forums last night, in cyberspace celebrations to salute the Glamour Boys, after they overpowered Maouloudia Club Alger 4-1 at Rufaro, in a sensational start to their Champions League campaign.
The Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, David Coltart, also sent a message, via Facebook, congratulating Dynamos.
Not since a 6-1 destruction of Mbabane Highlanders of Swaziland in 1987 have the Glamour Boys made such a storming start to their campaign on the continent and, after having waited for almost a quarter-of-a-century, it probably explains the frenzy of joy that swept through their fans’ hearts yesterday.
Times have certainly changed, for both Dynamos and the old Cup of Club Champions which now goes with the trendy identity of Champions League, but yesterday – as the Glamour Boys raced to a 4-0 lead and then settled for a 4-1 win, it provided a hint of a throwback to the days when Rufaro was a burial ground for visiting teams.
Their victims yesterday, commonly known as MC Alger, are not small boys either.
Exactly 35 years might have passed since they were last crowned champions of Africa but they are a seasoned lot and there is a reason why they have won seven Algerian league championship titles.
What appeared to impress the Dynamos fans who were at Rufaro yesterday, and who provided the live feeds via the social media forums to their counterparts spread around the globe, was not that their team won 4-1 but the impressive manner that they went about their business.
Most of the fans who tweeted or sent their updates on Facebook appeared to convinced that their team had undergone a stunning transformation, since the arrival of artistic coach Lloyd Mutasa, and a certain swagger had been added to its play.
To the DeMbare loyalists, Mutasa and his men had already shown them a lot, during the pre-season matches, to make them believe in a better season where football would be played with style.
According to their fans, it was Denver Mukamba who illuminated the show, capping it all with a good goal, and the Warriors’ fans will be hoping that the young forward takes his good form into next weekend’s big game against Mali in Bamako. But yesterday belonged to DeMbare and judging by their messages on the social media forums they believe their team has done enough to advance:
Quote Of The Day:
“I think (Lloyd) Mutasa is Zimbabwe’s (Pep) Guardiola. I’m seeing the class of Barca, the spirit of Man U, the youth of Arsenal, the defence of Italy, the voice of the Kop and the royalty of Real Madrid in this Dynamos team,” – VaShagare, Dynamos fan.
Other Comments
Samson Makunde: Good football from DeMbare. I hope the Warriors will learn from DeMbare.Well done DeMbare.
Wellington Shoriwa: Mutasa is our Mourinho in the making. He is shrewd and tactical
Lloyd Chirinda: It can only be DeMbare. DeMbare chete, chete, chete. Waziva Dynamos, waziva chokwadi. You will never go wrong.
Gondai Mazhuwa: That’s good news really, if Mighty Bulls had done the same, it could have been a good weekend for Zimbabwean sport. Well done DeMbare, like I said before only DeMbare can make us proud on the international scene. Well done to Mutasa and his technical team, supporters and, of course, the real superstars, the players. Well done.
SiyabongaVaDube (CAPS United fan): The Champions League is coming to Zim, team yakabatana iyi. What remains is to prime the youthful guys for the big stage. Concentration levels must remain high. But super performance, conjures memories of ‘98 but with a bit more style. Bhora Dembare. The guys should not grow big heads chete and I assure you Africa will be conquered. But from what I have seen Dynamos is a complete team. Game over, well done Lodza, well done Boys in Blue. Ndiri muKepeKepe but vakomana veblue vakaipa.
Joseph Musarurwa: Great stuff from a great teamAlfred Mutendera: The goal by Denver Mukamba was so good, it was just like watching Messi or Rooney. Magical stuff Dembare
Eliah Mulonda: The youngsters need to be told not to give unnecessary penalties and for Arubi not to get stupid yellow cards otherwise it was a good show. Well done guys
Chris Gutsa: Denver Mukamba’s goal was one for the archives. I salute the young man and pray that publicity won’t get to his head. He is a magician.
Mark Moteme: Thanks guys, thanks DeMbare, this shows that we can compete with the world. TP Mazembe be warned. Zimbabwe this time means business.
Onias Peterson Joshua Matava: Vimisayi is awesome, since at school.
Lazarus Ndenda: Zvinoda kutendwa. Go DeMbare!
Kenneth Chadiwa: Since 1963, DeMbare
Musa Karemela: I am a CAPS United supporter but l would like to congratulate Madzibaba Mutasa. A passing game for DeMbare helped them achieve the result. I hope they do the same in Algeria.
Jonathan Mutonga: Mukamba special.Veteran Desmond played brilliantly.
Lucky Hombarume: It’s a job well done by DeMbare and if they keep up that kind of play they will make us a happy people. Makorokoto maDeMbare.
William Masiyiwa: Well done Glamour Boys.
Robert Wilson: Varume ava vakaipa.
Phillip Hozo: Skies are blue for DeMbare
Edmore Chivizhe: Charamba’s song – Team yeDeMbare makaida Baba, makatipa Denver, tina Vimisayi, makatida Baba, Makatipa Mutuma na Zhokinyi, makaita basa, Apo tinoenda Algeria muirangarire. Dynamo bhora and I will make shuwa that ini nemhuri yangu tichasapota dzamara tafa.
Mark Ganje: DeMbare makapenga, what a match, I’m having a drink, Desmond Maringwa is a star.
Claudius Manyadza: I am a CAPS United die-hard supporter and (thank you) for representing our beloved Zimbabwe so well in the Champions League. It’s unfortunate the Mighty Bulls had to bow out through the lottery (because of) political unrest in Ivory Coast. Who knows, maybe Joey and his boys were to get a victory in Abijan.