Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi
Zimpapers Sports Hub
NEW Dynamos coach Saul Chaminuka was an oasis of confidence as he took his charges through their paces in preparation for Sunday’s Harare Derby rivalry with old foes CAPS United at Rufaro.
After the training session, it was time for Chaminuka to face the local band of journalists for the first time since being unveiled as Dynamos coach on Tuesday morning.
The soft-spoken coach maintained his usual calmness and composure when addressing an inquisitive cluster of media corps, who had wanted to know his plans to turn around the fortunes of the struggling giants. Journeyman coach Chaminuka takes over a Dynamos outfit, currently wallowing deep in the relegation zone, with a third of the season gone.
In fact, Chaminuka faces a myriad of challenges after inheriting a team in the intensive care unit, having only won once in 11 games while scoring only twice in those outings.
His arrival was also clouded by off-the-field chaos amid the increasing supporters’ unrest and threats of boycotts of the club’s home games to force a reshuffle of the management.
But Chaminuka was unperturbed as the team heightened their preparations for a game, which is traditionally rated one of DeMbare’s biggest on the domestic calendar.
“All my life in football, at this level, I’ve been busy planning on how to beat Dynamos. I am just hoping that since I’m here today, I’ll be able to plan to win for Dynamos all the time, if it allows us,” Chaminuka said.
Chaminuka appears worried by the levels of fitness of the DeMbare players and he dedicated a generous portion of their training time to fitness drills under the watch of new fitness trainer Thulani Munzabwa.
Some of the players visibly struggled to match the required standards, indicating they could still have more to do in that area.
Another new broom Marlon Jani was busy with the goalkeepers.
Chaminuka said his immediate goal was winning the famous Harare derby.
“As you can see behind us there, the boys are busy,” said Chaminuka.
“You can hear from the voices that something is happening. We are preparing for Sunday and we are going to do the best that we can.
“All the best that there can be, we are going to try so that come Sunday we win and people start coming in anticipation for more matches that are played, matches that are won and they are excited.”
Chaminuka was non-committal when asked his plans on the team’s scoring problems.
“Yes, goals, I think we cannot only talk about Dynamos. Goals are just lacking all over Zimbabwe. And if one team scores more than two in a game, I think it’s once in a while.
“It means the league is not producing goals and we are trying, working. And I am hopeful that with what we are doing, players will be confident and we will start scoring goals.”
Chaminuka replaced Lloyd “Ma Blanyo” Chigowe, who was sacked on Tuesday following a poor run, which included one win, five draws and five defeats in their first 11 games.
Midfielder Shadreck Nyahwa is the only player to have scored for Dynamos this season.
Their other strike was an own goal by an opponent.
Dynamos sit in 16th place in the log standings with a measly eight points in the bag.
They are under pressure to get a quick turnaround to appease the majority of the supporters, some of whom have joined the social media movement that has been calling for a boycott of the team’s home matches beginning this weekend.
Ironically, both DeMbare and CAPS United will have new coaches for the derby after Makepekepe last week appointed Ian Bakala to take over the reins from Lloyd Chitembwe, following a poor start to the season.
“I think that places us at par,” said Chaminuka.
“I don’t think we would have done much in terms of changing what has been going on at both our clubs. But fine, I also think that this is also a time that players will respond to what we have given them.
“Maybe two weeks, three or four weeks should be good to go because I am looking at the game of football as something that needs to invest a lot of time in it in order for you to come up with what you really want.
“So, at the moment we are giving them what we have that we think could add on to what they were getting already, and that should see us come up with the goals that we so desire so that we start winning games.
“My wish is to win Sunday’s game because it could bring a lot of confidence to the boys. I think that’s what is needed at the moment.
“It’s also something that was needed from the beginning of the season, that they win in high-profile matches so that they boost their confidence. If we are to win on Sunday, I am sure we will be difficult to stop,” said Chaminuka.
