Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo-Zimpapers Sports Hub
KELVIN KAINDU has said the delicate decision he took in accepting the Dynamos job at a time the Glamour Boys are on life-support and facing possible relegation from the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League, was an act of faith.
The Zambian gaffer, who had been unattached since being fired by Highlanders, agreed to succeed Saul Chaminuka with his main task drawn on undertaking a Houdini act and pulling Dynamos out of the relegation precipice.
Dynamos are enduring their worst season since their formation in 1963, sitting second from bottom in the 18-team league, with just 19 points after 24 games.
And in a league where four teams get the chop at the end of the season, relegation has increasingly become a reality for this storied club.
They have to consistently garner wins, now more than ever before, to just stand a chance of surviving relegation.
With only 10 games remaining, nothing is guaranteed and their destiny is no longer entirely within their control.
Still Kaindu took that leap of faith and adopted the broken-down giants who he is now trying to repair and take it back on the road again.
There are signs, really good ones, in the trajectory Dynamos are taking since Kaindu’s arrival. They floored one of the title contenders MWOS 1-0 in their last league match at Rufaro a fortnight ago.
And he also masterminded a penalty shoot-out victory for the Glamour Boys over Simba Bhora in the Chibuku Super Cup first round last weekend.
The positive vibes have only galvanised Kaindu, who is a pastor, belief that Dynamos can still rise again.
“I think it’s just about faith. It was definitely a difficult decision that I had to make and most people were asking me what I was doing saying they thought Dynamos was gone,” said Kaindu.
“But I think it was only just faith that motivated me and so far we seem to be going towards the right path.
“It’s not going to be easy but at least we are seeing a bit of light at the end of the tunnel. We keep on believing; yes Dynamos are in an unfamiliar position I think for the first time but we can be able to bounce back with a little more work.”
At this stage of the marathon, Dynamos can’t afford to slacken any further and an awkward tie against Kwekwe United at Ascot awaits tomorrow.
Sitting at the basement with nine points, Kwekwe United are almost gone but they will never back down until their burial and might just try to prove a point or two against Dynamos.
Mathematically, Kwekwe United are still alive and a victory over Dynamos might just be the spark they need to start a long climb up. Kaindu is very much aware of that potential banana-skin and he is happy every soldier he needs in combat is ready for battle.
“In terms of preparation, the guys need to be ready.
“We had everyone in training including Temptation Chiwunga who missed the last game (against Simba Bhora).
“The match against Kwekwe United is quite a stern fixture. Teams that are occupying the bottom two on the log.
“We know all the teams will be fighting for points,” added Kaindu.
“We are taking this game seriously against an unpredictable Kwekwe United.
“We are just focusing on the game that we are playing and hopefully be consistent.”
Kaindu said he is working on his charges’ finishing. He told the media that “I think goal scoring hasn’t been particularly good from the time that I came through they had managed to score only three goals. But we have scored two goals in the last three games.
“That shows that we are improving in terms of scoring.
“We are working on finishing in most of our training sessions that we are doing.
“I am hopeful that we remain focused. There is a bit of confidence in training and at least we hope to get something from every game that is coming.”
But before the bottom-of-the-log clash between DeMbare and Kwekwe United, all roads will be leading to Ngoni Stadium for the top-of-the-table clash between MWOS and Simba Bhora this afternoon.
The latter will be looking to return to the summit after they were dislodged by Scottland who beat ZPC Kariba yesterday.
CAPS United, under the tutelage of yet another Zambian Ian Bakala, have blown hot and cold and they will be under examination from relegation-threatened Yadah at Rufaro today. The Green Machine are not entirely safe and they will need to up their act.
Fixture
Today: Ngezi Platinum v Bikita Minerals (Baobab)
GreenFuel v Herentals (GreenFuel), MWOS v Simba Bhora (Ngoni), Chicken Inn v Manila Diamonds Luveve)
Tomorrow: Highlanders v TelOne (B/F), CAPS Utd v Yamaha (Rufaro), Triangle Utd v FC Platinum (Gibbo), Kwekwe Utd v Dynamos (Ascot)
Peter Tanyanyiwa