adminEddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
THE lights are slowly going out for fading giants Dynamos in this year’s Castle Lager Premiership championship race.
The Glamour Boys, who have often argued they should not be ruled out of this campaign, drifted further from the leading pack when they lost 1-2 to rivals Highlanders at Barbourfields on Sunday.
The defeat meant DeMbare remained in fifth place and are now 12 points behind log leaders FC Platinum with seven matches to go.
FC Platinum leads the marathon with 47 points after they had returned to winning ways with a 1-0 victory over How Mine 1-0 on Saturday.
Their nearest rivals in the race CAPS United ensured they stayed within one point when they edged defending champions Chicken Inn 1-0 at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday with their coach Lloyd Chitembwe declaring they were now going for the kill.
“Our chances are as good as FC Platinum’s and Highlanders. I don’t know about Dynamos. Yeah, our chances are very realistic. We have been very consistent.
“If my memory serves me well I think we have never been out of the top three ever since the season started and that tells you about our ambitions and our intentions,” said Chitembwe.
Makepekepe will have to grapple with the injury curse that continues to cause havoc in their camp.
Veteran forward Leonard Tsipa, who scored the solitary goal and skipper Moses Muchenje limped off the pitch after suffering knocks.
The Green Machine were also missing three key players Tafadzwa Rusike, Abbas Amidu and Archford Gutu through injuries and it looks the casualty list keeps growing.
“We have embraced the pressure. Why I am saying this is (because) anyone in the squad is prepared very well to take up the responsibilities because we are not the kind of team that cries or moans if we are to miss our one or two key players.
“It has always been the case that we are missing important players in our games, but we are still pulling results. I am extremely happy and delighted for the boys,” said Chitembwe.
Team manager Shakespeare Chinogwenya said the players will be assessed and they are hoping they will be fit for the Chibuku Super Cup first round match against Tsholotsho at the National Sports Stadium this Saturday.
“We have had to grapple with these injuries this year. There are no serious injuries though. Leonard has a problematic ankle, but it’s something that quickly goes away,” said Chinogwenya.
But while chances are still favourable for the trio of FC Platinum, CAPS United and Highlanders, it appears Dynamos may miss the coveted title for another year.
The Glamour Boys started the season badly under Portuguese coach Paulo Jorge Silva.
They made technical changes by bringing in Lloyd Mutasa and Murape Murape, but consistency has also eluded them.
Dynamos crumbled inside two minutes late in the second half at Barbourfields as Ralph Matema and Tendai Ndlovu gave Highlanders the win after cancelling out Masimba Mambare’s 28th minute opener.
Highlanders who, until the first half of the season, had not beaten DeMbare in the league in 10 years, were happy to complete a double over their rivals thanks to blunders by skipper Stephen Alimenda and goalkeeper Tatenda Mukuruva.
DeMbare team manager Richard Chihoro yesterday said they paid for their errors, but will not throw in the towel yet.
“We played well in that game, but I think we made mistakes which gifted them those goals. It’s common in football. Mistakes do happen, no one wants to play a match to lose.
“Everyone was hurt by that defeat. We all wanted to win that match, but that is the nature of the game. Now that we are 12 points behind the log leaders it means we have to work even harder.
“This is something that we have to remind these boys when we meet on Tuesday for training.
“The good thing is we still have matches against them (CAPS United and FC Platinum). The destiny of the championship has never been in our hands this season so we just have to play on. Hopefully they will also drop points along the way,” said Chihoro.
Online Reporter