adminAugustine Hwata Senior Sports Reporter
HARARE giants Dynamos have made the Mbada Diamonds Cup their fiefdom since the trophy was unveiled in 2011 and now the Glamour Boys will be aiming for more than just the prize money, but to permanently keep the silverware as they start their title defence against Tripple B at Gibbo on Sunday.
Dynamos won the first edition of the Mbada Diamonds Cup when they beat Motor Action in a rain-soaked final in 2011 before they staved off the challenge of Monomotapa last year.
Normally in football, a club that wins a silverware for three years in a row can permanently retain the trophy and the sponsor is obliged to find a new token or alternatively a replica can be made for the club to keep as a souvenir.
According to Mbada Diamond Cup rules Clause 15.6 dealing with ownership of the trophy, it reads : “The floating trophy shall permanently become the property of the club which shall win it for three consecutive competitions in the event that Mbada Diamonds sponsored successive tournaments.”
Yesterday, PSL chief executive, Kenny Ndebele, said he needed to clarify the correct position with the sponsors if Dynamos are entitled to keep the Mbada Diamonds Cup in the event that they win it this year.
“I have to seek clarity on that issue from the sponsors but it’s a norm in football tournaments that a club that wins three consecutive times will retain the silverware or alternatively a replica will be purchased for them to keep,” said Ndebele.
Ndebele, however, hinted that a player who scores a hat-trick in this years’ edition of the Mbada Diamonds Cup will keep the match ball as is the norm.
With the potential of decorating their club offices with Mbada Diamonds Cup on the horizon, Dynamos team manager Richard Chihoro yesterday said the current crop of players were ready to leave their own legacy for the institution celebrating its Golden Jubilee this year.
“We have just heard that we could keep the trophy if we win it this year but no one has confirmed anything. But it will be good if we defend the trophy and get the souvenir.
“So our training has gone well today (yesterday) and the players have responded well.
“We understand that the heat in the Lowveld is unbearable but we have been trying to adjust to the situation and that’s why we have been mainly training in the afternoons so that the players acclimatise,” said Chihoro.
Chihoro could be drawing confidence in that his troops Dynamos have never lost a match at Gibbo since they first used Gibbo when they beat Hwange 2-0 in a BancABC Sup8r quarter-final tie in 2011 before returning this year when they knocked out Buffaloes at the same stage of the competition on June 29 by a similar scoreline.
“We want to win the trophy again and the guys know what is expected from them. Everyone trained and we are almost ready.
“At our club we do not rely on one player to score goals but we challenge everyone to score. If we tend to rely on one player for goals, then we might go into a crisis if the player is off-form on the day,” said Chihoro.
Chihoro said Oscar Machapa and Augustine Mbara, who had picked up injuries on Tuesday, managed to run yesterday while Thomas Magorimbo is back in the team after serving a suspension.
Defender Patson Jaure is eligible for this cup game but he will sit out when they travel to Hwange for a mid-week league encounter because of picking up three yellow cards.
This week, Dynamos coach Callisto Pasuwa expressed his fears that his side should never underrate Tripple B just because the Beitbridge side are facing relegation.
Pasuwa said the fact that DeMbare were bundled out of the BancABC Sup8r Trophy by Shabanie means that his players should always be alert, especially when playing away from their trusted Rufaro.
At this stage of the competition last year, Dynamos played Quelaton who were at the bottom of the log and just like Tripple B, they were facing relegation.
But Quealton defied the odds as they gave Dynamos a good run and the match failed to provide a winner in regulation time before the Harare side won on penalties.
Tripple B have already vowed to give Dynamos a good run with their coach Peter Manoti and chief striker Alick Marime promising to brew a shocker.
Online Reporter