Champs in Mine test

Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
CHAMPIONS Dynamos have had enough rest to recharge their batteries for the final assault in their bid to win a third successive Castle Lager Premiership crown and ensure that coach Callisto Pasuwa makes history as the first gaffer to achieve such a feat. The Glamour Boys last played a match 10 days ago when they went to Triangle and poached a crucial point with striker Simba Sithole scoring his first goal in his second spell at the country’s biggest and most successful football club.

In contrast, their major rivals in the championship race Harare City and Highlanders were involved in a bruising contest in the semi-finals of the Mbada Diamonds Cup at Mandava which ended in a 2-2 draw with Bosso winning the tie in the penalty shootout lottery.
But DeMbare’s break is over and this afternoon they plunge back into the trenches when unpredictable Shabanie Mine come to Rufaro with the home side knowing that nothing short of a victory would be disastrous.

DeMbare have struggled against mine teams this season — they were held by Shabanie, failed to beat FC Platinum after a draw at Rufaro and a loss at Mandava, were thrashed at Hwange and lost to How Mine in a league match in Bulawayo and a Cup match at home.
That loss at the hands of How Mine in the Mbada Diamonds Cup gave them the break which could either help them or work against DeMbare.
It could help the Glamour Boys in the sense that it gave the players a chance to rest and recharge their batteries after two bruising encounters, away from home, against Bosso and Triangle that saw them pick four out of a possible six points.

It could also work against them in that their players had found a good touch, after winning at Barbourfields and showing commendable character to fight back and grab a point at Triangle, and that could have been lost during the break.

But, whatever the case, this Class of Glamour Boys know they have to move mountains for them to become only the third group of players, in the history of Zimbabwe football, to win three straight league titles.

DeMbare won four straight league titles between 1980 and 1983 while Highlanders also won four league titles on the trot between 1998/1999 and 2002.

But no coach has ever won three straight league titles on the domestic football scene and Pasuwa has a chance to write his name into the history books if he can lead his Glamour Boys to the Promised Land this year.

DeMbare were yesterday keeping their fingers crossed over the fitness of vice-captain Tawanda Muparati and striker Clive Kawinga who might be sidelined by injuries when the Harare giants host Shabanie Mine this afternoon.

DeMbare will be seeking to bounce back to winning ways and maintaining their advantage at the top of the table where they are sitting on 49 points, together with Harare City, with one point separating them from third-placed Highlanders.

The Glamour Boys’ team manager, Richard Chihoro, yesterday painted a gloomy picture on Muparati’s chances of playing a role this afternoon as he is still recovering from an injury he suffered at Triangle about two weeks ago.

Muparati could not finish that match as he was pulled out early in the second half after landing badly during the 2-2 draw at Gibbo.
Chihoro said Kawinga’s chances of playing today were also slim, leaving Patrick Kumbula and Washington Pakamisa as favourites to start.
In fact, DeMbare could make a number of changes to their starting line-up as their captain Murape Murape and roving fullback Oscar Machapa are also unavailable.

The pair is suspended for accumulating three yellow cards each in previous games while defender Partson Jaure will be sidelined for the red-card he picked at Highlanders a fortnight ago.

“We have two injury concerns at the moment. Remember that Tawanda (Muparati) was taken out injured in our last match at Gibbo. At first we thought it was a shoulder injury but now it appears it’s the collar bone,” said Chihoro.

“He has been doing light training, though, and it’s now beyond us to say if he is fit or not. We will have to hear from the doctors.
“We also have other guys who are out through suspension but we are not worried. We have good replacements in all departments. I must also stress that no one is guaranteed a place in this team.

“Each player must add value when given the opportunity to play and the coaches will not hesitate to make changes to the team if necessary.”

The absence of Muparati and Murape might open the door for players like Cliff Sekete who impressed in the previous games, starting from the bench.

DeMbare also have Russel Madamombe, Boban Zirintusa and Tichaona Mabvura as options for the midfield while Stephen Alimenda has done well in his holding role.

Thomas Magorimbo might be used at the rightback position while either Augustine Mbara and Victor Kamhuka will be considered to partner Gift Bello at the heart of defence.

The Glamour Boys know fully well the importance of collecting maximum points in this match as they are involved in a tight contest with Harare City and Highlanders, with FC Platinum and CAPS United also in the picture.

DeMbare have kept the gate charges at US$3 for the rest of the ground, US$5 for the Upper Grand Stand and US$10 for the VIP.
Chihoro said it was important to get as many fans as possible behind them in this mid-week fixture as supporters play an important role as the 12th man on the field.

He said DeMbare trained on Saturday and Sunday last week to keep fit as they were not involved in league matches at the weekend because of the Mbada Diamonds Cup semi-finals.

But Dynamos could not have quickly forgotten the disappointment they suffered at the hands of Luke Masomere’s men who knocked them out of the BancABC Sup8r Cup at the semi-final stage in August.

Shabanie triumphed 4-3 after a penalty shootout and then went on to win the Cup.
“Shabanie are a good side but we need the points. If we take everything into consideration, I think this is the time to win the league and we can only do that by winning all our remaining games and not concentrate much on what the other teams in the race are doing,” said Chihoro.

Shabanie Mine are currently ninth on the log table with 36 points and are not yet safe from relegation. They are just five points above the cut off zone and Masomere feels they would need to get maximum points against Dynamos to avoid playing their last two matches under pressure.

“This is going to be a really tricky match for both teams because we all need the points. On my part I want four points from the remaining three games of the season and I am going to fight hard to get three of those at Rufaro today.

“I know it’s not going to be easy because Dynamos are playing well, but we are also giving it our best. The good thing these days is that home advantage no longer counts. I think we have prepared well for this match,” said Masomere.

The asbestos miners have been complaining of injuries in their camp but the situation has since improved with only Pardon Marime and Eriah Phiri unavailable.

William Ngonya is also ineligible due to suspension for three yellow cards he picked in previous assignments, including their 3-2 win over Tripple B in their last outing.

Shabanie will also be looking up to their top performers like Pervington Zimunya, Tafadzwa Mombeshora, Caleb Masocha, Valentine Ndaba, Smart Muchabaiwa and Tarisai Rukanda to power them to a great away victory.