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Langton Nyakwenda
DYNAMOS are now preparing a three-year contract for Genesis Mangombe and a kitty to beef up the squad ahead of the 2024 season following the coach’s instant impact at the Premiership giants.
Mangombe guided Dynamos to their first final in eight years when they overcame bitter city rivals CAPS United 2-0 in a Chibuku Super Cup semi-final clash at the National Sports Stadium last weekend.
DeMbare will now meet Ngezi Platinum Stars in the final at Baobab Stadium on December 3.
This will be the club’s first Chibuku Super Cup final appearance since 2015, when they lost 2-1 to Harare City.
Mangombe has been in charge on an interim basis since taking over from Herbert Maruwa on August 8.
He has since impressed the Dynamos executive committee with the way he has transformed the side in a “short space of time”.
On Friday, he was also rewarded with the Coach of the Month award for October.
It has emerged that Mangombe will still get the Dynamos job on a permanent basis, even if his team falter in both the final and league title chase.
With eight points separating Dynamos from Ngezi going into the last five league matches, the Glamour Boys feel they are still in with a chance to dethrone the miners from the top.
DeMbare host Black Rhinos at the National Sports Stadium this afternoon, while Ngezi travel to Hwange.
“Mangombe has done enough to win our trust as the executive,” said Dynamos vice chairperson Vincent Chawonza.
“Even if we are to lose both the Chibuku Super Cup and the league championship, we will still be satisfied. Mangombe has surprised us a lot.”
The ex-Yadah gaffer succeeded Maruwa after Match Day 18 and has been in charge of 11 league games.
He has six wins, two draws and three losses.
Overall, he has picked up 20 points out of a possible 33, which translates to a 61 percent success rate.
When he took over, Dynamos were 11 points behind then-log leaders Highlanders, but they are now a point above their old rivals with five games left.
But the gap between Dynamos and current leaders Ngezi has widened from four to eight points during his reign.
He has, however, posted some huge results — including triumphs over Highlanders, Ngezi and CAPS United in the league — before knocking FC Platinum and Makepekepe out of the Chibuku Super Cup.
“The fact that we are in the final after beating giants FC Platinum and CAPS United shows us that we are already starting to dominate,” added Chawonza.
“It’s happening and we are already seeing some good signs. If we continue on this trajectory, then, we will definitely dominate the league in the near future.”
The Dynamos management were criticised in some quarters for their decision to fire Maruwa after a string of poor performances.
“We could see that we had certain people on board who could not help us achieve what we wanted.
“It was not really about personalities or being vindictive, we just had to make difficult decisions,” he said.
Long-serving team manager Richard Chihoro and assistant coach Murape Murape were also axed soon after Maruwa was fired.
Desmond Mhene was appointed acting team manager, while Lloyd Chigowe bounced back as assistant coach.
“I thought that the changes we made would bring results next year, but then transformation has come pretty much earlier.
“When we appointed Mangombe, we were now building for the following season and, as such, we were not going to corner him to win us something, but he has already surprised us.
“Within such a short space of time, he has done wonders,” said Chawonza.
Dynamos will seek to bounce back from the midweek loss to Manica Diamonds when they face Rhinos this afternoon.
It is a tricky encounter as the side is determined to survive relegation.
The soldiers have been playing well in the league lately despite being second from the bottom.
Saul Chaminuka’s team have managed two wins and two draws in their last five matches.
“It’s so sad we failed to capitalise on the chances we created against Manica Diamonds, but overall, we played a good game,” said Mangombe.
“We now shift focus to Rhinos, who are a wounded lion after losing 3-0 to Ngezi in the Chibuku Super Cup.
“They would want to compensate that by staying in the league, so they will try to win all the remaining games, but we are ready for them.” Some of Dynamos’ key players were set to undergo a late fitness test yesterday.
Skipper Frank Makarati is out through suspension, while the duo of Donald Dzvinyai and Kelvin Moyo are nursing injuries.
“We have played so many games in a short space of time and we now have injury concerns,” added Mangombe.
He can, however, still afford a smile, especially after guiding Dynamos to their first cup final since 2015.
“We have broken a record and I am very happy.
“I am trying to introduce my philosophy and the boys are grasping the concept very well.
“The fact that we are in the final and also still in the race for the championship shows we are doing something good.
“I am happy for the youngsters; they are improving. I am impressed a lot, especially by Junior Makunike. He is doing well and he is growing into an important player . . .
“We want to go back to the days when Dynamos used to be a team that nurtured and also attracted top players.”
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Online Reporter