Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi-Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE past week has been a period of sweat and deep soul-searching for Harare giants Dynamos.
DeMbare, who begin their league campaign away to TelOne this afternoon, were forced to go back to the drawing board following a brutal reality check in their Castle Challenge Cup final clash against Scottland last Sunday at Rufaro.
But they say they have taken battering behind them as they now focus on a new challenge awaiting them at Ascot.
DeMbare will be on a mission to recalibrate after losing the season-opening Castle Challenge Cup by an embarrassing 0-5 margin to Scottland last week.
On the flip side, their coach Genesis Mangombe believes the harsh football lesson was necessary to expose areas that needed improvement ahead of the new season.
“I think it’s now different that it was a cup game and you know the tactics you apply on a cup game are different from what we are looking at on a league game.
“But I must say it was a very bad defeat, a difficult one and we’ve been working on psyching up the boys.
“They were not bad, that they cannot play. But it was a very bad day in the office. So, we are trying to psyche them up so that we can go and make a difference versus TelOne.
“I’m happy with the response from the boys and all the combinations we were working on were coming up. I know on a good day we can we go out and collect maximum points,” said Mangombe.
Dynamos’ new backline was stretched by Scottland and they could not fight for 90 minutes against the tactically superior Mabvuku side.
DeMbare’s bench was limited as their new foreign signings were yet to get all their documentation in order.
But with the registration now complete, so much is expected from the Glamour Boys, who now have highly rated Malawian winger Stanley Billiat, Congolese defender Isaac Landu, and Cameroonian goalkeeper Idrissou Nfor Finia available for today’s match.
DeMbare are also believed to have secured Ghanaian international Christopher Nakai Nettey, who is touted to fill the void created by the departure of their former captain Emmanuel Jalai.
“I think we are 99 percent, so I’m happy that now we have a wider selection and we have a very stiff competition in terms of selecting the team which is going to represent us.
“But I’m confident that we are going to win this game,” said Mangombe.
Dynamos have not always had it easy against TelOne, who are under the tutelage of their former coach Herbert Maruwa.
The two teams have played six times against each other with each team winning once while four other matches ended in draws. But TelOne hold a psychological advantage after winning the last encounter between the two sides last year.
But the DeMbare fans were disillusioned by the poor impressions made by their team in the season opening cup match against Scottland.
“We know as for our fans they say Dynamos must win all the games and you know we have new recruits here who also have to understand the badge.
“So, we are trying to take them in bit by bit so that they understand playing for Dynamos is not a joke. But as for our fans we need them in their numbers and we want to thank them for their good support,” said Mangombe.
Fellow giants CAPS United face the unknown against newly promoted AGAMA at Rufaro tomorrow.
The Harare giants are looking forward to turning around their fortunes under new coach Takesure Chiragwi and have signed a battery of new players to breathe new life into the side.
AGAMA are one of the mystery teams as they have been largely anonymous during the pre-season when other teams were active on the market and embarking in training camps away from their bases.
They maintained the technical team of John Nyikadzino and Mark Mathe, a former CAPS United coach. The club’s secretary general Entroge Usayi has remained upbeat about their team making an impact in their debut season.
“As AGAMA Football Club we are here to compete. We are looking to be a force to reckon with in the league,” he said.
“We have a squad of 20-22 very experienced players and an experienced technical bench that comprises of head coach and assistant coach who are all in possession of CAF A coaching licences. So, we are very much prepared,” said Usayi.
Fixtures
Today:
Herentals v Chicken Inn (Rufaro), Ngezi Platinum Stars v FC Platinum (Boabab), Triangle v ZPC Kariba (Gibbo), TelOne v Dynamos (Ascot)
Tomorrow: CAPS Utd v AGAMA (Rufaro), Manica Diamonds v Simba Bhora (Gibbo), Hardrock v Scottland (Chahwanda), Highlanders v Bulawayo Chiefs (Barbourfields)
