Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
DYNAMOS captain Emmanuel Jalai yesterday said matches against Highlanders are never easy but they will be motivated by their recent successes in the Chibuku Super Cup when they face their old enemies in the semi-final of the country’s premier knock-out tournament at Rufaro on Sunday.
This will be the two teams’ second clash inside a week after they played out a 1-1 draw at Barbourfields in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League encounter last Sunday.
But there has to be a winner this time around and Jalai believes the Glamour Boys are well motivated going into the last-four clash with Bosso given that they have won this tournament in the past two seasons.
It will not be easy for Dynamos, who will go into battle without two of their players, Denver Mukamba and Jairos Kasondo, who have been among their most influential in their revival mission. Mukamba and Kasondo will be serving suspension and DeMbare know the job will be harder than the journey they have travelled in this contest this season when they eliminated Yadah Stars, Simba Bhora and ZPC Kariba.
It is Kasondo who mesmerised and scored the equalising goal against the Bulawayo giants last Sunday while Mukamba has been the leading force weighing in with his vast experience and artistry.
But both will watch from the stands as the others attempt to work a way into what will be the Harare giants’ third successive Chibuku Super Cup final appearance.
Dynamos previously won the competition in 2023 under the guidance of Genesis Mangombe before defending the title with Lloyd Chigowe in charge last year.
While DeMbare are eyeing to get into the final and possibly win a record third Chibukau Super Cup, Bosso have their own ambitions.
They are targeting a second Chibuku Super Cup success, having won the silverware in 2021 when beating Ngezi Platinum Stars at Barbourfields.
Jalai knows conceding first against Bosso will likely affect their game plan the way it did last Sunday as they would have to fight their way back.
The Warriors international said they will stand ready to avoid that.
“Yeah, conceding first against Highlanders did affect our game plan in so many ways,’’ Jalai said.
“But the good thing is that we managed to rally back and we levelled terms before half time and it was normal again.
“I cannot really say we shouldn’t concede first but the fact is we have to play well and make sure that we get past them and into the next stage. We all know what it means to play against Highlanders.
“They are a big team by any measure and the match will be very tough. It is one of those matches where the better team on the day will claim the victory.
“We want to be that better team and that is what we are working on right now. We are very much motivated as a team knowing that we have been winning the Chibuku Super Cup in the past two seasons. That alone is a source of pride for us and we know it also comes with a bit of pressure.
“This is a game against Highlanders where literally everything, even a throw-in, matters. We are ready as Dynamos and we hope to deliver on the big stage.”
Coach Kelvin Kaindu will get another opportunity to beat his former bosses which he will be eager to do.
The Zambian gaffer didn’t feel any animosity when he returned to Barbourfields for the first time last Sunday, three months after his unceremonious ouster from the Bosso dressing room.
While he didn’t win the match as he would have liked, Kaindu knows he has that big chance to do so and eliminate Bosso at Rufaro where Jalai has called upon fans to fill up and rally the team.
The Chibuku Super Cup assignment provides Dynamos with a chance to temporarily forget their relegation worries in pursuit of a trophy they have called theirs for the past 24 months.
“As Dynamos, fans are our souls. They make us what we are and I can only plead with them to come in their numbers and rally the team to victory.
“We should always salute them, for they are our pillars. We are ready for Highlanders and we know with our 12th man around, we can be a better team,” Jalai said.
