Power Dynamos head coach Oswald Mutapa expressed satisfaction after his side secured a hard-fought point in a goalless draw away to Red Arrows in a rescheduled Week 18 fixture at Nkoloma Stadium.
In a tense encounter between the MTN Super League’s top two sides, Abayellow matched the league leaders stride for stride, with Mutapa insisting the result reflected the balance of play over 90 minutes.
“Overall, I think we had more of the first half, and Arrows had the last 15 minutes where they created maybe two chances,” Mutapa said. “We wanted maximum points, but you could see how tough the game was. There were a lot of emotions involved.”
A Valuable Away Point
Mutapa highlighted the significance of taking a point from a venue where Red Arrows had previously maintained a perfect home record.
“We take a point, especially in a rescheduled game away from home. Arrows hadn’t lost or drawn here before, so it tells you we are on the right path,” he noted.
“After 90 minutes, we are happy with a point. We had our half, they had theirs, but in the end, we’ll take it.”
Power Dynamos controlled much of the first half, while Red Arrows improved after the break and finished the stronger side in what proved to be a cagey and tactical battle.
Managing Emotions and Officiating Concerns
The match was played at high intensity, and Mutapa stressed the importance of keeping emotions in check.
“We mentioned before the game that we must control our emotions. We don’t need anyone leaving the pitch with a cut or a red card,” he said.
However, the Power Dynamos boss was less impressed with the officiating.
“If you don’t blow for certain duels when you need to, the game can get out of hand, and it did. They have their assessors, and I believe they will talk to them. Ours is to make our team play.”
Squad Depth and Rotation
When quizzed about Kenyan forward Moses Shumah — the club’s leading scorer in all competitions — starting from the bench once again, Mutapa was quick to dismiss suggestions of controversy.
“We have 30 players. I don’t know why we focus on one player. Shumah is just a player of Power Dynamos. Others were even in the terraces. At any given time, only 11 can play,” he said.
Mutapa explained that squad rotation has become essential amid a congested fixture schedule.
“We’ve played two games in five days, and we have another in eight days. It’s too much for the players, so we have to rotate.”
Tactical Adjustments
The coach admitted his side allowed Red Arrows too much space in the second half, particularly after the introduction of experienced midfielder Yusuf Phiri.
“When they brought in Saddam (Yusuf Phiri), he was receiving the ball in pockets of space. If you give an experienced player that kind of room, it will hurt you,” Mutapa observed.
“That’s why we brought in Linos (Makwaza) to try and close those spaces.”
Crowd Trouble Overshadows Contest
Unfortunately, the match was marred by post-game crowd disturbances that shifted focus away from what had been a competitive top-of-the-table clash.
Mutapa condemned the incidents, calling for supporters to respect the boundaries of the game.
“We don’t need that. Football is played on the pitch. Let supporters back their teams from where they are allowed to. We don’t want to see people coming onto the pitch.”
Despite the off-field drama, the stalemate keeps the title race finely poised, with both sides maintaining their push at the summit of the MTN Super League table.
