Dynamos swallow Chiefs on the terraces

Lekopanye Mooketsi | Tuesday February 18, 2014 12:11

 

 

Perhaps the Chiefs supporters were discouraged by their team’s 3-0 loss to Dynamos in the first leg clash in Harare a week earlier. Only a fraction of the usually passionate Chiefs supporters turned up for the match.

On the other hand, Dynamos supporters thronged the stadium in large numbers. The team was accompanied by three bus loads of fans.  Dembare also drew support from members of the Zimbabwean community who are based in the country. The boisterous supporters occupied the popular Panda as well as the covered stands.

They took the whole of the one of the covered stands, which is mostly occupied by Notwane supporters.  It was at this stand where the Dynamos supporters’ choir was based.  The supporters were chanting ‘Dembare, Dembare’ throughout the game.  

When the Dynamos players marched into the field their supporters waving Zimbabwean flags and the team’s memorabilia gave them a rousing welcome. It was as if Chiefs were the visiting side as they were booed.

When Dynamos scored in the first half, the whole stadium erupted. The Dynamos choir kept the boys going throughout the game while there were no dikoma at the Chiefs stands.

The appreciative Dynamos players paid homage to the supporters after the game.  

One of the supporters who accompanied the team all the way from Harare, Steve Gwaze, commented that the hospitality they were accorded was good.  He said as far as the supporters were concerned, they did not encounter any challenges.  Gwaze said when they came to Botswana, they knew that they have finished their assignment as the job was done in Harare.

 But the team’s head of delegation, John Phiri, said the reception they were accorded was not the best. Phiri said they were initially booked at Metcourt Inn, but later moved to Tlotlo Hotel. 

He said this inconvenienced them because they lost a lot of time, as they were moving around, adding that they were not even able to do their training on the day.

He said this was expected when playing in Africa and they were used to such tricks.   He feels that Chiefs officials were trying to play mind games after their team lost in Harare.

However, Phiri acknowledged that they were later accorded good hospitality by their hosts.  He said the Zimbabwean High Commissioner to Botswana, Thomas Mandigora was also helpful as he attended to their needs.