adminEddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
CHAMPIONS Dynamos have vowed they will not lose track in their fight to retain the championship despite the recent bad patch which has sparked disgruntlement among the supporters.
The Glamour Boys have dropped four points in their last two matches at home.
Dynamos rallied back to force a 1-1 draw against Triangle at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday, just days after they were held to a goalless draw at Rufaro by Premiership newboys Tsholotsho Pirates.
Team manager Richard Chihoro yesterday said they have not given up on their dream to win the championship despite the recent dip in form, which has given pace-setters Chicken Inn an advantage.
Chihoro said coach David Mandigora should be given time to work on his project.
“I think we should give the coach time. I am confident things will come right. Right now we are second on the log standings and it’s still the first half of the season,” said Chihoro.
On paper, the Glamour Boys are still looking fine as they are currently sitting second on the log standings with 22 points, four behind leaders Chicken Inn.
However, Mandigora was under the spotlight again from a section of the club’s supporters who are not convinced by the way their team has been performing.
DeMbare have won the championship in the last four years under Callisto Pasuwa and it appears the supporters had expected the new coach to raise the bar a bit higher.
But in comparison to last year’s campaign, Mandigora has managed to equal the team’s record after the opening 12 games.
DeMbare had 22 points at this stage last season, after recovering from a slow start.
The supporters last week barricaded the team’s exit and on Sunday they were again singing songs denouncing the coach.
“These things are not new at Dynamos. They also happened to Pasuwa if you remember. But patience pays.
“Last year we had so many draws in the first seven games of the season and some wanted Pasuwa to go. In the end everyone was happy when we won the trophy.
“Our players, though, are used to it. We all understand that Dynamos is a big team and the supporters need wins every time, nothing less. But football is not like that.
“We are doing our best under the circumstances to ensure results come.
“My appeal at the moment is that the supporters should stop singing songs that demoralise the coach and the team. I think if we can all rally behind him we can progress as a team. Rome wasn’t built in a day,” said Chihoro.
Ocean Mushure scored from a free-kick in stoppage time to ensure a share of the spoils after Triangle had taken a 64th minute lead through Felix Kuswatuka.
Triangle are now in third place with 21 points while How Mine claimed a crucial 2-1 win over struggling ZPC Kariba to move into the top four on the same number of points.
Chicken Inn were the biggest winners of the weekend in every sense following their 3-0 thrashing of Buffaloes on Saturday.
The Gamecocks coach Joey Antipas was pleased by his team’s performance, especially coming from a defeat at Hwange in their previous assignment.
Antipas won the title with Motor Action in 2010 and is looking to repeat the feat with Chicken Inn.
“It feels great to be back to winning ways. But it’s still game on. It’s one thing to be sitting at the top and it’s another to maintain the status.
“So, we are not relaxing. As a team we would need to keep focused because competition this season is fierce.
“If you look at the games played so far, it’s only a few instances when we saw real thrashings. Even the bottom teams are putting up a strong fight,” said Antipas.
Newboys Dongo Sawmill got their first win on Saturday when they beat fellow Premiership debutants Flame Lily 2-1.
However, Shadreck Magurasave’s men remain rooted at the bottom of the table with seven points.
Online Reporter