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Tadious Manyepo-Sports Reporter
DYNAMOS are determined to fight to the bitter end in the Castle Lager Premiership football championship race and the recovery of first-choice goalkeeper Taimon Mvula is expected to help their cause.
The 29-year-old shot-stopper has been down with a shoulder injury over the past three weeks. Mvula twisted his shoulder as he stretched to tip over FC Platinum forward Walter Muson’s vicious free-kick in the Chibuku Super Cup semi-finals at the National Sports Stadium. He tried in vain to play on but he was eventually replaced by Frank Kuchineyi in a match Dynamos would lose on penalties following a goalless draw in regulation time.
Kuchineyi was also thrusted to start the Glamour Boys’ league match a week later at the same venue against Ngezi Platinum Stars.
DeMbare lost the match 1-0 with Kuchineyi breached in the opening moments.
Coach Tonderai Ndiraya gave the starting nod to Prince Tafiremutsa in their last match against Manica Diamonds on Sunday and the lanky goalkeeper managed a clean sheet on his Dynamos debut as the Harare giants won 1-0.
And the return of Mvula from the sick bed could boost the Glamour Boys’ fight for the league title which they still have some mathematical chances of winning.
Mvula, who has been resting since sustaining that injury, started training yesterday with the goalkeeper expressing confidence he will be match-fit by this weekend.
“I started light training last week and I have been working specifically on my fitness levels. I had been told not to risk the shoulder so I wasn’t reporting for first team training, instead, I was having my training monitored by experts.
“I have now fully recovered and I am happy I am back at training. In terms of physicality, I am back to where I was before that injury,” said Mvula. “I am now back to full training with the rest of the squad and the feeling is awesome. I would like to congratulate my colleagues, Frank (Kuchineyi) and Prince (Tafiremutsa) for the job they have been doing.
“I have always said that the roles being played by these two are very big even at a time when I was the one playing. These two are competitive and the way we work together as goalkeepers has been helping the team in a big way.
“When I got injured, I knew they would cover up very well because they are competent goalkeepers. Actually, I am not expecting to walk back into the team straight away. I will have to work hard for it. Basically, as a footballer, my job is to play the game and to be back from a nasty injury is something I feel I should cheer about.” Mvula is arguably the best goalkeeper in the league right now, having kept 18 clean sheets in all competitions this season.
Before his injury, the former Hwange goalkeeper was the only player at the Harare giants to have seen every minute of action in all competitions. He is one of the front-runners for the Soccer Star of the Year accolade at a time the league has struggled to produce brilliant individuals. Dynamos coach Ndiraya said Mvula’s return is a plus on the team’s part.
“I am sure, if you have been following us, Taimon Mvula has been one of the most outstanding players this season.
“He played every minute until he got injured in that match against FC Platinum in the Chibuku Super Cup.
“His return has obviously given us more options for the Number One position and we know what his presence can do to the whole team,” said Ndiraya.
“We are not in a place we wanted to be at. The situation is not that ideal for a team of our stature as we wanted to win the league title. We are not throwing in the towel yet so we need all our players in the team,” said Ndiraya.
“We will keep on fighting, we need to pick every point and do what we can for ourselves. It’s looking difficult.”
Online Reporter