By Rex Mphisa
DULIVHADZIMU Stadium, Beitbridge’s ceremonial home and heart of soccer, exploded into joy, song and dance last Sunday as Dulibadzimu United rediscovered its winning ways with a derby victory.
Dubbed “The Battle For Beitbridge Part 2” the match had always promised fireworks from two Beitbridge teams Dulibadzimu United and Beitbridge FC both plying their trades in the Zifa Central Region Division 1.
United’s new talisman Mike Nezungai droning jersey 22 proved his worth having been signed on at the window period and he did justice to the faith put in his feet by the singing Duli Duli faithful.
Running skilfully and never putting a foot wrong, Nezungai chipped the keeper after getting a gift from a Beitbridge FC defender who tried to back pass his keeper.
And Nezungai accelerated and latched on the grave error to beat the advancing goal minder with a clean strike that must have made football Gods abandon heavenly seats in celebration.
Nezungai, a smiling assassin, stabbed the ball and gave it the right pace, weight and tact at the stroke of half time to seal the scoring and sent the stadium into a frenzy.
But it was the other speed merchant Evidence Chiraswa who put back smiles on Dulivhadzimu United fans at 18 minutes when he outpaced a Beitbridge FC defender to put a screamer past the Beitbridge FC keeper left for dead.
Chiraswa, showing signs of hunger for goals , burst into speed to collect a clean service from Nezungai who placed the ball into space on the right flank.
Pretending he would cross the ball to a waiting Messi Gushero, Chiraswa sold the keeper that dummy and his shot whizzed into the near post.
The two magical moments opened the wallet of Beitbridge Town Clerk Loud Ramakgapola who gave each R200 for their prowess.
“Those goals were magical, brilliant and such scenes bring joy to our town. I jumped, I saw the stadium jump with me. We need soccer tourism and this is the right time to have top flight soccer in Beitbridge. We owe this to the community, ” he said, handing over the money to the two soon after the match.
A businessman and farmer Renato Manavhela who does not miss a Dulibadzimu United match said the gesture by Ramakgapola was an eye opener for businesspeople to promote local talent in sports.
But back in the field, Never Malunga’s boys were uncompromising and man of the match and midfield general, outstanding with his ginger half of his head Matsika ruled the day with his hard tackles and sporadic raids into the opponent’s half who were playing as anchors for United.
Each of Matsika’s touch of the ball send wild screams from the crowd welcoming him back after he missed the last home game when his child was sick.
The gangling midfield magician towered in the centre of the park sweeping, switching and spraying his passes across the field at will.
Matsika time and again would initiate one and two exchanges with veteran Forward Makambanga whose experience and sure footedness will be unmatched in a long time!
Both teams coming from painful defeats away to Shesham for Dulibadzimu and home to airmen Chapungu for Beitbridge FC, the game was to live to its billing.
And the scoreline at 2 may have not been had Beitbridge FC not been wasteful. Twice the team featuring Leeroy “Nduzo” Rwokuda, the former United captain who swapped shirts and went to the busmen side Beitbridge FC, could have found the nets but were jittery.
Nduzo, after a long lay off, started slow after his introduction and showed signs of being match rusty but picked up as the game progressed but failed to shake the midfield Matsika had built.
A packed Dulivhadzimu Stadium saw the Duli Duli goalkeeper Munya pouring cold water on Beitbridge FC efforts and even juggling the ball in an exhibition of fearlessness.
On the whole, soccer lovers were treated to a proper family day with a lovely atmosphere nearly spoiled by drunk female supporters of Beitbridge FC storming the stadium in an attempt to beat up a Dulivhadzimu United ball boy.
In an embarrassing and outdated way by bad losers, the women (pictured) ran onto the pitch after the game to confront the boy they felt was slow in taking back stray balls into the pitch.
“We don’t need this behaviour in soccer especially from women who are mothers that must teach children love sport,” an official from Beitbridge FC supporters said.
United finished its double against their twin team defeated 1 – 2 in the first meeting.