Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi
Zimpapers Sports Hub
STRUGGLING giants Dynamos and CAPS United are likely to have no choice but to give in to the demands of their new coaches, who want reinforcements during the mid-season transfer window in order to achieve balance for their sides.
DeMbare’s Saul Chaminuka and Ian Bakala of CAPS United were in agreement with most of the football stakeholders that their teams put up a commendable show during the latest edition of the traditional Harare Derby, which ended in a 1-1 stalemate at Rufaro on Sunday.
However, the giants have struggled to match their opponents in the league, where they are both currently flirting with relegation after 12 rounds of play.
Chaminuka was emphatic about the need to add depth to his side after he was forced to make difficult decisions in only his first assignment.
The former Zimbabwe national team assistant coach inherited a squad thin in quality and in personnel, which was only made worse by the suspension of one of the key defenders, Clive Mandivei, for the Derby.
“Yes, of course. That’s one area that we may also look at,” he said when asked about his mid-season transfer plans.
“Obviously, we will probably look for one or two players in attack as well as in defence because we are also thin in defence. We ended up using a player that could have done better in midfield.
“You take an impact because you have an injury or you have a suspension, so definitely we will want to add one, two or three players,” said Chaminuka.
The mid-season transfer window will open in under two weeks.
Dynamos were severely handicapped during the pre-season because of their weak financial status, as they had to go for cheap and out-of-contract players on the back of a massive player exodus.
As a result, the Glamour Boys made one of their worst starts to the season. Dynamos are third from the bottom with nine points from 12 starts.
But after watching his players in the derby played before a sizeable crowd, Chaminuka was convinced he could salvage something out of this group.
“I think we have a good team and they responded well to instructions. They are a coachable group of young players.
“I’m sure with time, they will adapt, and we will start reaping results. We just need to be more convincing in the attacking third,” he said.
Dynamos’ strike-force has been their Achilles heel this season. They had not scored in seven matches prior to the arrival of Chaminuka.
But captain Emmanuel Jalai was on target from the penalty spot on Sunday for only their third goal in 12 games this term. “We took a lot of our shots from too far off. As we go, we want to get closer so that instead of hitting hard, we’re just supposed to pass the ball into the nets.
“I think we need to be more confident in playing the ball on the ground. We have young, quick players who should be able to combine, getting through and penetrating any defence.
“I’m sure as we go, maybe after a while, very soon it will start happening. We’ll start seeing the results,” said Chaminuka. His sentiments were shared by his opposite number, Bakala, who also arrived at a struggling side with the mandate to turnaround the prospects of the Green Machine. There have been noticeable changes with the Zambian, who opened his tenure with a 1-1 draw against Herentals last week.
Rather than sticking to the same old faces that have continuously been failing, Bakala has given playing opportunities to new faces like Wesley Milanzi, Tapiwa Matongo, Jimmy Dzingai, Love Bissila Mabiala and Nyasha Chintuli.
“Firstly, I pick a team on merit,” said Bakala. “I have to see it in training because I wasn’t here. Even if someone tells me, what about that player? I think that player has to work in training, which is more important for me.
“And the team that you saw (on Sunday), everyone was ready. They showed it in training. I think everyone wants to prove it because I’m new here.
“The players, they are training extra hard than they were doing before. When I came (before the Herentals game), I think I watched two games here in training.
“The two days I had with them was different from this week because I started with them on Monday. But the understanding, I think, is obvious: it’s very difficult for the players who haven’t seen something new in the team.
“But everyone is fighting at the moment, which is the thing I think I have to work on. To make a possible line-up where even if you’re not here, you’re able to tell what that player will play. But for him to play, he has to give 100 percent,” said Bakala. CAPS United are currently in 14th place on the log standings with 10 points from 12 games. They have two wins, four draws and six defeats.
The Zambian also indicated he was working on the players’ psychology, with the hope of beefing up during the mid-season transfer window.
“I think I found a lot of things that were not correct, which I’m trying to help the boys with. Yeah, it takes time for them to know what CAPS United means. But I think they are catching up.
“There’s love. When I came, I think they were looking a bit divided. But now, even in training, you can tell that something is building up, which is good.
“But it’s an obvious case, when it comes on the window, I will bring players who are going to make CAPS United come back to where it belongs,” said Bakala.
