Arubi rallies DeMbare

Mozambican champions Liga Muculamana in a Champions League first round, second leg tie at Rufaro on Sunday with the veteran goalkeeper rallying his troops.
Arubi, who is also the team vice captain, put on a fine show in Maputo as Dynamos managed to secure a crucial 2-2 draw.

On-fire striker Takesure Chinyama gave Dynamos the lead in the 21st minute before Telinho evened the scores on the stroke of half-time but Chinyama secured his brace in the 52nd minute to restore the lead.
Manuel Mablango then rescued the game for the Mozambican champions as he equalised in the 80th minute but Arubi’s heroics denied the hosts a win in the late stages.

Arubi, who has also gained international experience while keeping goal for the Warriors, noted that although they got a result in Maputo, they still had a tough job on their hands.
But the Dynamos goalkeeper and reigning Soccer Star of the Year has made no secret of his dreams to help inspire the Harare giants into the group stages which — he reckons — is where DeMbare belong.

Dynamos were one of the seeded teams when the Champions League draw was conducted and had a bye in the preliminary stage.
“We are taking each game as it comes and now I am focusing on this tie against Liga Muculumana.
“I am ready to put up a good show again,” said Arubi.
Arubi said he has great respect for Liga Muculamana but believes that Dynamos should utilise home advantage.

The Mozambicans are expected to arrive in Harare at 4pm tomorrow.
“They are a good side but this is Champions League and we have to be prepared for a difficult match.
“I am ready and I think we should be getting a result that will see us proceeding to the next second round.

“My wish is to play in the final and Sekuru Gudo is ready,” said Arubi.
If Dynamos manage to sail past the Mozambicans as they are largely expected to do, they will face either Esperance of Tunisia or Brikima of Gambia.
The two sides drew 1-1 in Gambia and will be clashing in Tunis this weekend with former champions Esperance expected to book a berth in the second round.

Meanwhile Dynamos fans will have to pay a little bit more to watch Sunday’s first round decider.
The DeMbare management have loaded an extra dollar on the cheapest ticket as they battle to raise funds to meet the costs of hosting the Mozambicans.
Tickets for the rest of the ground have been pegged at US$4, US$10 for the Upper West grand stand and US$15 for the VIP.

Club secretary-general, Ray Kazembe, said the hike in ticket prizes has been necessitated by the high costs involved in hosting a match of this magnitude.
“Over and above the normal costs that we incur for the domestic games like the hiring of the ground, police and other services, international matches carry more expenses.

“We want to charge prices that will at least help in meeting some of the costs. For instance we need to fly in the match officials, pay for their accommodation and that of the visiting team.
“As a team we also need to go into camp to prepare for such an important match and that would mean paying three hotels bills, on top of the normal costs,” said Kazembe.

He said Dynamos are banking on the home support to inspire them through to the second round.
DeMbare managed to get a crucial 2-2 draw in the first leg away in Maputo two weeks ago but the Harare giants are aware that the job is still far from being complete as both sides have equal chances of progressing.
Kazembe yesterday admitted they have a big game on their hands.

But he remained confident they would work their way past the visitors, as they look to proceed to the second round where they are likely to face holders Esperance of Tunisia.
Kazembe said Dynamos, who were booted out by MC Alger in the first round last year, will not take any chances as they seek to return to the mini-league stage this year.

The Harare businessman reckoned that DeMbare should build on their promising start and urged the club’s supporters to “come and create an intimidating atmosphere for the visitors, who appear less popular in their home country judging by the number of their fans who watched the game in Maputo.
“The ultimate goal is victory for Dynamos and we are saying our supporters play a vital role. We have an advantage of the bumper crowd here who should create the right atmosphere by rallying behind the team all the way.
“I believe the supporters can make a big difference from the terraces and we are asking our fans to come in their numbers.

“I believe they contributed a lot in Mozambique where they even went to the extent of overshadowing the home fans,” said Kazembe.
A number of Dynamos supporters travelled to Maputo by bus for the first leg and cheered their team as Callisto Pasuwa’s men battled for a 2-2 draw that has helped ease the pressure on them ahead of Sunday’s return leg.

While acknowledging that it was still game on, Kazembe tipped Dynamos to come out victorious against the Mozambique outfit.
“It’s going to be difficult but I am confident we will sail through. I have watched that team (Muculmana) play and I think they are a good side.
“They pass the ball well and we need to be on guard. We cannot afford to be complacent because we held them at their own backyard. The important thing is we now know them better and I think the technical team has done their homework.

“I have so much confidence in our team,” said Kazembe.
DeMbare were in defensive mode in Maputo and are likely to go all out in search of the goals that should take them to the next level.
On their return from Mozambique, the Glamour Boys then began the defence of their Castle Lager Premiership title with a fine 3-0 hiding of newboys Hardbody at Rufaro last Sunday.

Chinyama was again on target as he fired a hat-trick to take his Dynamos goal tally to six in three games.
But this week Pasuwa and his men were back at training and immediately shifted focus back to the Champions League.
And as Dynamos stepped up their preparations with another training session at the match venue yesterday crowd favourite Arubi was hopeful a win this weekend

would be a fine Easter present for their multitude of fans.

Pasuwa hinted that he could make a few changes to the side that beat Hardbody but its unlikely that Chinyama and Arubi could be affected, barring any injuries.
Seasoned defender Guthrie Zhokinyi is sure to miss the tie as he serves the second of his four-match suspension imposed by the Confederation of African Football.
The tough defender was adjudged to have abused the match official when he picked up a red card at the same stage of the competition against MC Alger of Algeria last year.