‘Questioned, criticized for attitude’: All to prove for Nathan Mutasa after Chibuku Super Cup blinder
Rufaro Stadium was bouncing on Sunday afternoon, and right at the center of it was a kid with everything to prove.
Nathan Mutasa answered his critics in style with a Chibuku Super Cup masterclass and insists the performance is only the beginning of his fightback.
Mutasa came off the bench, changed the game, scored his first professional goal in Zimbabwe, set up another, and left with a lap of honour and the Sunday offering in his pocket.
Dynamos FC, the defending Chibuku Super Cup champions, began their title defence with a 4-1 demolition of Telone FC in the Round of 16. And when the match was locked at 1-1 and Dembare were running out of ideas, Mutasa walked on in the second half and lit the fuse.
Signed on loan from champions Scottland FC in the mid-season window, the young winger has had a bumpy start.
Coach Aristica Cioaba questioned his attitude a few weeks ago, and a quiet cameo at Colliery Stadium in the ZIFA Munhumutapa Challenge Cup exit to old foes Hwange FC last weekend did little to quiet the critics.
Yesterday was different. A menace on the right flank, Mutasa scored to make it 2-1, then swung in a perfect corner for the third goal which was scored by Isaac Landu. Zibusiso Ruguchu’s own goal and Frank Agyemang’s late strike completed DeMbare’s goals while, Jerry Chipangura scored Telone’s consolation.
MUTASA PROMISES MABVIRA-VIRA AS DYNAMOS DATE SCOTTLAND ON WEDNESDAY
Nathan Mutasa in action against TelOne FC at Rufaro stadium. Picture by Fanzone
By full-time it was 4-1, and Mutasa was the name on everyone’s lips. The Dembare faithful called him back for a lap of honour around the iconic Rufaro, showering him with love and applause. “It feels good and very happy,” Mutasa told Fanzone after the game.
On settling at Dynamos, Mutasa said: “Dynamos has been a very good supporting environment. It’s a team that has welcomed me well. They have let me play my best football, giving me the freedom to express myself and play on the field.”
He showed Dynamos fans with praise, saying they have been good to him. “The fans have been good and fantastic and this gives me more confidence to play and more energy to prove to them and to myself that I am worthy to play for such a big team,” said Mutasa.
And then came the grin whe asked about Wednesday’s rescheduled Castle Lager PSL fixture against his parent club Scottland FC, Mutasa didn’t hold back: “There is definitely more to come from me. Pa Wednesday apa, pa Wednesday apa!” (On Wednesday there will be fireworks!)
That game could define the 2026 title race. It’s now a three-horse sprint. Scottland FC lead the log on 53 points from 25 games. Hardrock FC are second on 51 from 26. Dynamos sit third on 45 points from 25, level with Herentals but ahead on goal difference.
If DeMbare beat Scottland on Wednesday, they will cut the gap to 5 points and announce themselves as genuine contenders. If the champions drop points, it’s a boost for Kevin Kaindu’s Hardrock, who will smell blood.
For Mutasa, it’s personal too as the player overlooked by Norman Mapeza in a star-studded Scottland squad now gets a shot to hurt the champions. From questioned attitude to being match-winner.
Nathan Mutasa has found his voice at Dembare. And if Sunday was anything to go by, Wednesday might just be his loudest statement yet.
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