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Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
CHAMPIONS Dynamos might have lost ground in this riveting Castle Lager Premiership race, after a demoralising defeat at Mandava on Saturday, but The Herald’s readers still believe the Glamour Boys will be crowned kings at the end of the marathon.
An online poll on this newspaper’s website has been asking readers to choose which team will win the league championship this year. And, although DeMbare fell seven points behind leaders Chicken Inn, with eight games still to play, those who have participated in the poll somehow still believe that the Glamour Boys will be crowned champions.
As of 6pm yesterday, 60 percent of the respondents said Dynamos will win the championship, completing an unprecedented feat, given they will make history as the first domestic club to win five titles on the trot.
Three thousand four hundred and forty three people had taken part in the vote. Although Chicken Inn have a healthy lead right now, only 887 people, representing 26 percent of the vote, believed that the Bulawayo side will be champions.
And 488 people, representing 14 percent of the vote, felt that Norman Mapeza and his FC Platinum will be champions. Dynamos coach Tonderai Ndiraya yesterday said he was expecting a big response from his players as they aim to collect maximum points against newboys Whawha at Rufaro this afternoon.
“It’s not going to be an easy afternoon but I think we are deriving confidence from the fact that after I have spoken to the boys about the defeat at FC Platinum they seem to be very focused and very much prepared mentally and physically for the challenge,” said Ndiraya.
“In as much as we have respect for Whawha, I think they must also realise that we are the champions. We want to go out there and collect maximum points. We have gotten to a stage where we cannot afford to drop points.
“I have spoken to the boys about that and we all agreed about the need to win games. Now they have to prove to us tomorrow (today). But from what we have seen they seem to have regained their energy and hopefully they will give us a good game, a good fight and perhaps collect maximum points.”
The champions were boosted by the return of Ocean Mushure who missed the last two games against How Mine and FC Platinum because of suspension.
Ndiraya is expecting the bulk of the players who featured at Mandava like Takesure Chinyama, Rodreck Mutuma, Ronald Chitiyo, Sydney Linyama and Stephen Alimenda to lead the charge again this afternoon.
However, talented young defender Kudzanayi Nyakasaka is still out injured and will be on the sidelines together with long term worries Artwell Mukandi and skipper Augustine Mbara.
“I think from Sunday’s squad we have only made one change by dropping Milton Makopa and bringing in our left-back Ocean Mushure who was on suspension.
“That’s another area that we had been quite hamstrung but he will bring a lot of experience. I think it will assist us to get a result tomorrow (today),” said Ndiraya.
DeMbare will face former player and coach Lloyd Mutasa who will be looking for another success story against his former side. “We are here on a mission. We are a team that is fighting relegation and every point matters at this point. Getting out of this situation means we need to collect as many points as possible.
“But then we are playing the defending champions. Dynamos are serious title contenders so we are bracing ourselves for a tough match,” said Mutasa. However, the side will be missing the services of their top goal-scorer Roy Useni, the man whose solitary strike sunk DeMbare in the first leg.
Apart from Useni, Mutasa will also not be able to field Dynamos juniors’ product Nigel Gandari who moved to the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services side during the mid-season and cannot feature because of the nature of his relationship with the Glamour Boys.
But they still have their arsenal in former league Golden Boot winner Nelson Maziwisa, Albert Matewu and Zimbabwe youth international Livingston Genti. Log leaders Chicken Inn have a tricky away fixture at Triangle this afternoon.
Coach Joey Antipas said they anticipate a difficult assignment in the Lowveld since their opponents are also still in the race for the championship.
“We are hoping to get something out of this match considering that they are also in the race for the championship. Don’t forget that Triangle have been doing well at home this season, so we will try to contain them.
“They are not an easy opponent at this stage,” said Antipas.
The Gamecocks are set to welcome their skipper Danny Phiri but there were huge doubts over Guide Goddard, Brian Mbiriri and midfielder Bheki Ncube who were scheduled to take a fitness test. George Majika will miss the match after accumulating three yellow cards.
Fixtures
Today
ZPC Kariba v Harare City (Nyamhunga), How Mine v FC Platinum (Luveve), Chapungu v Tsholotsho (Ascot), Dynamos v Whawha (Rufaro), Triangle v Chicken Inn (Gibbo), Hwange v CAPS Utd (Colliery)
Tomorrow
Highlanders v Flame Lily (Barbourfields), Buffaloes v Dongo Sawmill (Sakubva)
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