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From Eddie Chikamhi in Gaborone
HARARE giants Dynamos were yesterday not happy about the reception they received from their hosts, Mochudi Centre Chiefs of Botswana, after they were made to wait for about six hours before they could be booked into a hotel.
DeMbare arrived in Gaborone yesterday morning, after spending almost 24 hours on the road, for the return leg of their Champions League tie against the BeMobile league champions scheduled for tomorrow at the University of Botswana Stadium.
The team left Harare on Thursday morning and after travelling for the 1,068km trip they found no one from neither the club nor the association waiting for them at the Grand Palm Hotel where they had initially been directed.
It turned out that Chiefs had just made quotations at the hotel and the DeMbare contingent who desperately needed rest could not be accommodated since the bookings had not done.
Fatigue was a big factor following the long, overnight journey. They were however, later taken to Tlotlo Hotel and Conference Centre and the bookings had to be made while they waited.
Chiefs, just like Dynamos, are also facing financial challenges which almost led them to consider pulling out of the Champions League this year.
However, DeMbare coach Callisto Pasuwa was not happy with the way they were received but urged his players to ignore the sad chapter and concentrate on their mission, which is to win tomorrow’s match.
“Africa being Africa, I think these guys (from Mochudi) knew that we were coming and this was just a delaying tactic maybe to unsettle us.
“But we have been in worst situations before and we have been telling these guys (the players) to forget about everything they have encountered. When you are away, you are away.
“You must always expect anything when travelling for away games. We are here for a mission and the moment we step onto the pitch our target is to play and win,” said Pasuwa.
The team had one training session in the evening to try and shake off the fatigue. They are scheduled to stretch again this morning and have another evening session at the match venue.
Pasuwa said fatigue and match fitness were genuine concerns in his camp and has proposed another light training session tomorrow morning at 9.00am, just a few hours before kickoff.
“It was a very tiresome journey and most of these guys’ feet are swollen. We were on the road for almost 24 hours and we are going to see how we can work things out without making the situation worse.
“Many of the guys have been complaining about fitness but I wouldn’t want to dwell much on that issue. Actually that is the reason we brought 20 players. We will see who is fit to last 90 minutes and who is not and play them accordingly. We have also brought some guys who did not play last week and are motivated to be part of the team,” said Pasuwa.
Dynamos squad
G Chigova, P Mukuruva, O Machapa, T Magorimbo, A Mbara, O Mushure, P Jaure, T Ndlovu, V Kamhuka, S Linyama, S Alimenda, W Mukanga, T Muparati, M Murape, M Mambare, T Rusike, C Sekete, R Chitiyo, S Sithole, W Pakamisa.
Online Reporter