Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi
Zimpapers Sports Hub
DYNAMOS coach Saul Chaminuka is taking comfort in numbers despite indications the Glamour Boys are slowly losing their fight to keep their Premiership status.
The 0-1 defeat to TelOne in Gweru at the weekend further added to DeMbare’s woes in their battle to survive relegation.
Of late coach Chaminuka, who recently took over from Lloyd Chigowe, has been trying to keep a brave face in light of the mounting pressure.
But as results keep evading his team, the prospects of Dynamos getting relegated for the first time in 62 years are turning out into a reality.
The Glamour Boys find themselves stuck in an unfamiliar 17th position after 20 games. They have amassed just 15 points, which is five points short of the current position of safety.
The Dynamos family is already panicking, unsure whether the 22-time Zimbabwe champions will be able to turn the ship around in the remaining 14 games.
“No, I don’t want to think that people should panic. We have plenty of games; 14 games are how many points? We are looking at how many points in 14 games? 42 or so,” said Chaminuka.
“We can still survive. We are losing but we have almost 10 teams that are around where we are and it’s a question of winning one or two games on the trot and we are out of relegation and we start competing with the rest,” said Chaminuka.
Dynamos are involved in the battle for survival with teams like Kwekwe United, who sit at the basement with nine points and Triangle who are just above Dynamos on 19 points. Yadah are the other team in the relegation zone despite the stunning 1-0 win over title hopefuls MWOS at the weekend.
GreenFuel, who lost 0-1 to Highlanders and Chicken Inn are also on 20 points. The Gamecocks were beaten 0-1 by FC Platinum at the weekend. Also in the relegation mix is Manica Diamonds whose six-match win-less run has pegged them at 21 points.
Giants CAPS United needed a last-gasp equaliser against relegation fighters Triangle at Rufaro to salvage a point but they are still to break clear of the relegation yoke on 24 points.
But the biggest disappointment of the season has been Dynamos. The Glamour Boys have won only two matches in 19 starts. Chaminuka was roped in with the hope of turning around a campaign that had derailed from the onset.
But Chaminuka’s arrival has not changed much as DeMbare have only managed one win, four draws and three defeats in the eight games that he has been in charge.
Their match against FC Platinum was abandoned after the Glamour Boys players walked off the pitch. Given the circumstances, they are likely to lose the match on a technicality, with FC Platinum getting the match on a 3-0 scoreline.
Dynamos have so far amassed 15 points. Chaminuka believes his team has potential but has been lacking in terms of finishing.
“It’s painful. You play in a game that you are looking at and you are saying we are in control of this game and it is just a matter of when we are going to score.
“But I think (we have made) the wrong choices. What are we doing in order to then put the ball into the net?
“They had one opportunity to score and we lost the game. Yes, we are saying that maybe we will have this and that in the near future. But I think we are dropping crucial points, which we are supposed to actually be collecting in order to be on the opposite end of what is happening.”
However, with games fast running out in the campaign, very soon there will be no straws to clutch at. Dynamos will be travelling to Wadzanayi this week to play log leaders Simba Bhora.
Chaminuka is hoping by then they would have concluded the signing of at least one or two strikers to beef up their attack.
