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LLOYD CHIGOWE doesn’t look like a coach who has been shoved into a blast furnace and tasked with the onerous task of saving the country’s biggest soccer team from relegation.
The man some call MaBlanyo is playing it cool as a cucumber.
The new Dynamos coach was witty as ever after last Thursday’s training session during which he used Denver Mukamba as a central striker and slotted Godfrey “Marabha” Mukambi as a defensive linkman.
Chigowe cracked jokes and did not give much away even as he hinted that he inherited a polarised dressing room.
There are some players who are allegedly still loyal to sacked coach Lloyd Mutasa, some are believed to have become Biggie Zuze’s boys during that man’s short stint, while some have embraced Chigowe and his assistant Murape Murape.
Ahead of today’s Chibuku Super Cup quarterfinal clash against Herentals at Rufaro, Chigowe expressed confidence of winning over the dressing room.
On claims of dressing room divisions he said: “That is far-fetched. Ocean (Mushure), for example, asked to be excused from training due to personal issues while others are who are not here are injured.
“Besides, I have gained respect from the players being someone who worked with most of them from junior level, so dealing with any dressing room hiccup should not be a problem.”
His biggest problem on that front, it would seem, is Panashe Mutasa, who has not reported for work since his father was sacked.
“Panashe should come and fulfil his professional contract. We expect him to come and train with others. If he performs well then he stands a chance of playing,” said the DeMbare coach.
Chigowe reckons a victory against Herentals will set the tone for DeMbare’s revival.
“We need to bring back self-belief and positive thinking amongst the players. We expect a good result against Herentals so that we lay the foundation for the fight against relegation. We expect a hell of a game but in the end DeMbare must come out tops because we are a big club,” he remarked.
Chigowe might use Mukamba as an out-and-out striker with Kingston Nkhata starting from the bench as he tries to unlock goals for Dynamos, who have scored just once in their last six games.
Nkhata is yet to contribute meaningfully since joining Dynamos from Supersport United of South Africa during the mid-season transfer window.
“Denver is the best finisher that we have and when goals are not coming, as is the case now, we naturally have to turn to him. He has been doing well in that role at training and we are confident that he will continue on that fine path on Match Day,” said Chigowe.
Online Reporter