admin
Augustine Hwata Sports Reporter
CHAMPIONS Dynamos believe the enforced long break from action could have come as a blessing in disguise for them as they now have a full squad that is ready to re-launch the defence of their Castle Lager Premiership title. Dynamos had been hit by a spate of injuries that had impacted negatively on coach Callisto Pasuwa’s selection options.
While the long break caused by the Warriors’ international commitments hampered the Premier Soccer League’s plans, it also provided DeMbare with some breathing space from which they hope to benefit for the remainder of the championship marathon.
Dynamos will briefly re-launch their title defence when they host ailing Motor Action at Rufaro in one of four matches lined-up for today.
Across town at Morris depot, Black Mambas receive Highlanders while Black Rhinos travel away to Gibbo to face Triangle and Shabanie Mine host Buffaloes at Maglas.
After a nearly five-week break, the PSL fixtures resumed yesterday, albeit for just a single round with the league set for time off again this weekend, to pave way for the national team’s African Nations Championships qualifier against Zambia.
The mid-week matches had hung in the balance after Zifa and the PSL argued over their staging with the association concerned that the games would disrupt the Warriors’ preparations.
Zifa, who had threatened to withhold match officials grudgingly allowed the games to go ahead with four of the games being played at Mandava, Dulibadzimu, Rufaro and Barbourfields.
Once yesterday’s matches went ahead as scheduled, it cleared ground for the staging of today’s remaining four games.
It will be the first time that Dynamos will be playing in the aftermath of the dressing room shake-up that saw Tonderai Ndiraya being axed from the assistant coach’s post after his fallout with his boss Pasuwa.
Team manager Richard Chihoro has been doubling as assistant and yesterday, he expressed relief at having a larger pool of players from which to choose their team for today’s game.
“We had a light training session today and all the guys were able to work out and we’re ready for the game.
“The break was good in some sense because we had a number of players who were carrying injuries and they have now recovered and should be ready to play.
“At the moment, almost everyone in our squad is fit,” said Chihoro.
During the break, Dynamos engaged in several practice matches against Black Mambas and Flame Lily while they also boosted their playing personnel.
Chihoro said their Warriors quartet of Tawanda Muparati, Partson Jaure, Augustine Mbara, and Devon Chafa trained with the rest of the squad yesterday and would be available for selection this afternoon.
Players selected for the national team by coach — Ian Gorowa — had torched the stand-off between Zifa and the Premier League as the mother body had directed that the Warriors should report for camp yesterday.
Before the break, Dynamos had strikers Washington Pakamisa and Patrick Khumbula, skipper Murape Murape and long term injury casualty, Milton Makopa, on the sidelines.
The Glamour Boys also used part of the long break to lure back winger Benjamin Marere and also secure the defensive pair of Oscar Machapa and Victor Kamhuka, who had been playing in South Africa last season.
Former CAPS United winger Machapa was playing for Moroka Swallows while Kamhuka was at Black Leopards and the pair, deemed excess baggage by their respective clubs, have since been cleared to play on the domestic front.
While morale seems high in the DeMbare camp, it has not been rosy in the Mighty Bulls dressing room and seasoned coaches Joey Antipas and his assistant David George find themselves having to guide a team that is at the bottom of the log standings and seemingly low on confidence.
During the break, the Mighty Bulls lost brothers Clement, Louis Matawu, Francis Nicho, Dylan Chivandire, Tigere Mapuranga, Charles Mutero and Lawrence Mutizwa.
Antipas, however, retained some experienced players like Edward Tembo and goalkeeper Marlon Jani while taking on board Marvel Samaneka, who had been in limbo since being fired from CAPS United last year.
“The majority of our new players are virtually unknown and we took many of them from Aces Youth Soccer Academy.
“We had been working out with them for the past few weeks and it was okay. We worked on the combinations in defence, midfield and attack,” said Antipas.
The former Warriors coach said throwing his rookies into a match against Dynamos will be giving them a baptism of fire.
“Playing against Dynamos, who are the defending champions is literally giving a baptism of fire to the youngsters.
“But this is a chance for them to stand up and make a name for themselves and I’m sure if we are to go down, we will go down with a fight,” said Antipas.
Antipas said Motor Action, as the underdogs, do not have any pressure going into this game and they will use the forthcoming break to work on the grey areas they would have observed today.
“There is another break soon and we will use that to sharpen up. But I want to warn Dynamos that the ball is round and it can roll in any direction,” said Antipas.
Bulawayo giants Bosso have often done well against Mambas but their coach Kelvin Kaindu was worried that the long break could have affected their rhythm.
At Maglas, Luke Masomere will be hoping to complete a double over Buffaloes having beaten the Mutare army side 3-0 at Sakubva in the reverse fixture.
Triangle have also boosted their team with some new acquisitions and whether those new players brought in by Gishon Ntini will make an immediate impact will be seen when they host Black Rhinos.
Fixtures:
Today: Dynamos v Motor Action (Rufaro), Triangle v Black Rhinos (Gibbo), Black Mambas v Highlanders (Morris Depot), Shabanie Mine v Buffaloes (Maglas).
Online Reporter