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Langton Nyakwenda
Sports Reporter
FOR a team that has been struggling to raise money for camping, the one-week stay in Botswana has been a blessing for Dynamos, who are involved in the CAF Confederation Cup.
DeMbare players have been together since last Wednesday when they flew into Gaborone for the preliminary round first-leg fixture against ZESCO United.
The Harare giants beat ZESCO 1-0 at the National Stadium last Sunday and will play the reverse fixture at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola, Zambia on Saturday.
They are scheduled to leave Gaborone for Ndola today.
The Glamour Boys coach, Lloyd “MaBlanyo” Chigowe feels their stay in Botswana was a vital bonding session for his players, who before this assignment were not enjoying the same luxury.
Dynamos players were no longer camping for Premier Soccer League matches before they plunged into the CAF Confederation Cup battle.
“Bonding is fantastic,” Chigowe told Zimpapers Sports Hub.
“The boys are well prepared for the return leg in Zambia.
“It will be great to qualify for the next stage, we won a battle last Sunday now we need to win the war,” added Chigowe.
The lanky gaffer is one of the most seasoned coaches on the domestic scene but this is his first experience on the continent.
Chigowe replaced Genesis Mangombe at the beginning of August and his first task was against Simba Bhora at Barbourfields on August 10.
The match ended 1-1 with Namibian striker Sadney Urikhob on target for DeMbare.
Urikhob was not on target when Dynamos edged ZESCO last weekend.
Instead, it was the pint-sized and tireless midfielder Tanaka Shandirwa who made the headlines after heading home a cross on the half-hour mark.
Dynamos are, however, fretting over the fitness of their Namibian man as Urikhob picked up an injury in that game and is now racing against time to be ready for Saturday’s return leg.
Chigowe has now put Ghanaian striker Emmanuel Paga on standby to lead their line in Ndola.
“Urikhob is responding well to treatment but we have called in Paga to be on standby”.
Dynamos are making a return to Africa after a 10-year hiatus and are now well poised to progress to the next round of the CAF Confederation Cup.
Should they sail past ZESCO, DeMbare will play either Orapa United of Botswana or Foresters of Seychelles.
The two sides drew 1-1 in a first-leg tie in Seychelles last weekend.
Dynamos have been boosted by news that participants in the CAF Confederation Cup will pocket a cool US$50 000.
Their principal sponsor Sakunda Holdings are also catering for their African excursion. The Harare Giants were also hosted by Township Rollers in Botswana.
Rollers, who are the country’s most successful football club with 16 league championships, are owned by Zimbabwean businessman Tendani Sebata.
“We are a group of happy people and the boys are motivated
“I want to assure the Dynamos fans and the nation that the boys are polished and in terms of motivation they are okay,” said Dynamos chairman Moses Maunganidze.
DeMbare are aiming at reaching the group stage of a CAF competition for which they last featured under the late David Mandigora in 2008.
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