tawandamusarurwa
Langton Nyakwenda
DYNAMOS recorded their biggest league victory in six years at Barbourfields Stadium last weekend after thumping Yadah 5-1, but the Harare giants return to the same venue this afternoon with the axe hovering over coach Herbert “Jompano” Maruwa once again.
It was the first time they had scored five goals in a league match since August 24, 2017, when they walloped How Mine 6-0 at the same venue.
Despite the flattering result, Maruwa is once again back in the spotlight after it emerged he has been handed a fresh five-match ultimatum to save his job. Maruwa has to beat Hwange this afternoon and then account for Sheasham, Simba Bhora, Cranborne Bullets and Highlanders to retain the hot seat. The five-match ultimatum does not include next weekend’s Chibuku Super Cup first-round clash against Simba Bhora. According to club insiders, Maruwa’s contract has a clause that requires him to win the championship this season.
And the club’s management is reportedly worried that the gap between them and bitter rivals Highlanders could be difficult to close if DeMbare do not start playing with more consistency.
DeMbare, who have 28 points, were nine points behind Bosso at the conclusion of the first half of the season last weekend.
Highlanders played ZPC Kariba at Nyamhunga Stadium yesterday and will face Black Rhinos at Barbourfields, FC Platinum at Mandava, Chicken Inn and Dynamos in their next four league matches.
“The belief is that the league championship is still within our reach, but we just need to hit a certain level of consistency,” said Dynamos vice chairperson and head of the human capital committee Vincent Chawonza.
This is the second time this season that Maruwa has been given an ultimatum.
After going for five games without a win in May, the former Black Rhinos gaffer was given a three-game ultimatum and he responded with two consecutive wins against ZPC Kariba and Black Rhinos, before collecting a vital point against champions FC Platinum.
DeMbare then beat Chicken Inn 2-0 but suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Green Fuel.
Maruwa’s men responded to the loss at Green Fuel with the demolition of Yadah.
Since then, Maruwa has posted reasonable results — four wins, one draw and a loss.
Dynamos have 28 points from 17 matches, a return of 1.6 points per match.
They have seven wins in 17 matches, meaning the probability of them winning a match currently stands at 41 percent.
Maruwa refused to talk about the new conditions and, instead, chose to concentrate on “the immediate task” against Hwange.
DeMbare beat Chipangano 1-0 in their opening fixture of the season in March.
Maruwa and his assistants Genesis Mangombe and Murape Murape should also get credit for their courage to throw into the fray a number of young and unheralded players such as Elton Chikona, Tendai Matindife and Keith Madera. Chikona, who is set for a move to Finland, has scored three goals.
Former Yadah midfielder Tanaka Shandirwa has also blossomed under Maruwa at Dynamos. However, the Glamour Boys’ executive members are not convinced with Maruwa’s performance during the first half of the season. Although DeMbare are still with a huge chance of winning the title, given there are still 18 games to play, some fear inconsistency could be the team’s greatest undoing.
They started the season well with two wins, including the 4-0 victory over Sheasham, but they went on to draw against Simba Bhora and Cranborne Bullets, before losing 2-3 at home, at the National Sports Stadium, to Bulawayo Chiefs. They recovered from that bumpy patch with a famous 2-0 Harare derby win over city rivals CAPS United.
But soon after the derby success, their form dipped and they played four consecutive goalless draws against Triangle, Herentals, Manica Diamonds and Highlanders.
They subsequently lost 1-2 at Ngezi Platinum Stars. Perhaps the three-game ultimatum that followed triggered a revival, as the team regained form and thumped ZPC Kariba 3-0.
They followed that up with a 2-1 win over Rhinos, before drawing with FC Platinum.
The tale of winning in one weekend and losing or drawing in the other continued, with a 2-0 triumph over Chicken Inn at Barbourfields being followed by the defeat to Green Fuel.
After hammering Yadah 5-1, their fans are now praying that DeMbare’s demon does not strike again.
On reflection, Maruwa and his lieutenants will probably rue the goalless draw with Cranborne Bullets in Week Four, the 2-3 loss to Bulawayo Chiefs at the same venue in Week Five and the 0-0 draw with Triangle — all at the National Sports Stadium.
X (formerly Twitter): @LangtonGuraz
Online Reporter