The blockbuster battle that ended in laughter

BY NIGEL NYAMUTUMBU

HARARE – A draw in the battle royale of Zimbabwe's traditional football giants, Dynamos and Highlanders, was without doubt the fairest result.

Not that it is a result that both teams wished for. Until the last minute, you could tell that both teams were searching for that sucker punch that would not only earn three points and bragging rights, but also the nation’s pride.

Yes, the nation's pride.

Dynamos and Highlanders are not just footballing institutions, they are a part of Zimbabwe's diverse cultures.

A reflection thereof.

It is not a moot argument that the giants have lost their status as the indomitable kings of the game in Zimbabwe.

Even worse, the blue half of the nation has been captured by a greedy yet clueless individual, whose boardroom coup seems like a takeover by an undertaker determined to expedite the burial of this once mighty club.

That a people's project found itself in the pocket of this selfish individual is a mystery only time will resolve.

But I digress.

On Sunday, Dynamos and Highlanders somehow remembered their giant status and delivered a match high on both value and intensity.

Of course, most of the credit will go to the players and the technical teams.

But in all fairness, it was a multi-stakeholder effort that ensured the battle royale maintained its status as the flagship fixture of the Zimbabwean Premier Soccer League (PSL).

From the administrators, whose introduction of advanced tickets has brought in a refreshing semblance of order at the gates.

Many of the fans are yet to embrace this innovation, but I am sure it is a matter of time before they utilise this efficient system.

Besides, what is more important is how the fans turned out in droves despite the recent hike in the gate charges of all premier league matches.

The carnival atmosphere created the necessary vibe and a great advertisement of the beauty of the local game.

Credit must also go to the media for hyping the biggest fixture and wetting the appetite of football fans to brace up for the big one.

The sponsors played their part too, with various promotional activities that connected the fans and the game they so love.

It sure comes all together with a Castle!

The fairly priced beers, particularly one of Delta Beverages flagship brands, Castle, provided the necessary refreshment in the otherwise scotching heat.

But at the end of the day, it was the players – the real stars of the show that delivered beyond the ordinary standards the giants had made football spectators accustomed to.

Four goals. Open play. And the die-hard attitude on the field of play gave a thrilling view.

While there was very little skill, the evident athleticism by both teams covered up for what would have been individual brilliance.

In any battle, a few players did stand out – from time to time – but there was an attempt at maintaining team play.

More like attacking and defending as a team.

And passionately too.

We are still behind in certain areas, particularly some technical aspects of the game and the pitch could be better. But we can't fault progress.

Especially considering that both teams were relegation candidates only last season and there's still a lot of work in building the otherwise new teams.

It could be early days, but the display by the giants gave a glimmer of hope that perhaps this season might bring better fortunes.

And this is what the fans want to see. Value for their hard-earned money.

Even for those tit bits of controversy as the one that characterised the conclusion of the game, when on two occasions in those dying minutes the referee, who otherwise had a good game, flashed the red card before withdrawing it for a yellow card.

And on the last occasion when he made the mistake and immediately blew the final whistle, he laughed.

He must have been thinking about what a game it was. The blockbuster battle probably did deserve to end in laughter.

*Nigel Nyamutumbu is a Zimbabwean-based media development practitioner serving as the Coordinator of a network of journalistic professional associations and media support organizations, the Media Alliance of Zimbabwe (MAZ). He can be contacted on njnya2@gmail.com or +263 772 501 557