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Tadious Manyepo Sports Reporter
GREENFUEL coach Rodwell Dhlakama says the next six Castle Lager Premiership matches will be a test case for his charges’ character.
The Chisumbanje team has been one of the best performers in the league since Dhlakama took over the reins from Bhekithemba Ndlovu about five weeks ago.
The former Young Warriors coach has collected eight points in the five matches he has been in charge after winning twice and drawing as many games, while losing once.
GreenFuel’s record since Dhlakama took over is only bested by log leaders Ngezi Platinum (10 points), Bulawayo Chiefs (11) and Chicken Inn (10).
The former Ngezi Platinum gaffer adopted a team which had collected a paltry two points in six matches and he has transformed them into a decent outfit good enough to pick eight points in the past five match days.
The Chisumbanje team beat Simba Bhora 1-0 and overcame Black Rhinos by an identical score line.
They played a goalless draw against ZPC Kariba and restricted Highlanders to a 1-1 stalemate at Barbourfields last Sunday.
Their only defeat (1-0) since Dhlakama’s arrival was inflicted by equally transformed Cranborne Bullets.
GreenFuel are however still swimming in the red zone but with 10 points to their name, only six points separate them from sixth-placed Manica Diamonds.
And their next six matches could be decisive given they are playing the best teams in the league.
They already held Bosso at their own backyard with Nqobile Bhebhe ensuring a share of the spoils at Barbourfields last Sunday.
GreenFuel face FC Platinum (H), Bulawayo Chiefs (A), Chicken Inn (H), CAPS United (A), Dynamos (H) and Triangle (A) in their next six matches in that order.
And Dhlakama will be eager to continue his dominance over FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza when the two teams clash at Gibbo on Sunday.
Dhlakama was the technical director at Monomotapa with Mapeza the coach when the defunct outfit won the league title in 2008.
And for a long time now, Dhlakama continues to boss his former subordinate whose coaching credentials have also solidified after leading FC Platinum to three titles including back-to-back triumphs in 2017 and 2018.
It will be an interesting duel between two of the top coaches who have faced off against each other in all competitions for six times with Dhlakama leading the stats after overcoming Mapeza three times while losing twice with the other showdown ending in a stalemate.
Dhlakama said the upcoming fixtures for his team are tricky but the secret was to take each game as it comes.
“I am very happy that as a team we continue to make those baby steps which I think are very critical.
“It’s always difficult being a new team in the championship. You need to be very strong. But I am happy with what we have done so far over the past five weeks. There is great progress and we wish to continue in that trajectory,” said Dhlakama.
“Beginning with our match against Highlanders last week, our matches in the next couple of weeks are very difficult.
“But, if you are in this league, you have to play against the teams in this league. That’s what we have to face. But we shouldn’t start thinking about the next game before playing our next opponents.
“The best way is to focus on one game as they come. This weekend we are hosting FC Platinum. It’s obviously a very difficult match given the difference in status. But we don’t have to look at all that. We should have the character like the one we showed against Highlanders last week.
“We need to pick as many points if we can. The point is to go out there and work hard”.
Dhlakama is also praying that the GreenFuel Sports Arena, whose renovations are now about 98 percent complete, will be certified fit by the ZIFA First Instance Board to host top-flight matches.
The terraces have been erected while changing rooms have also been completed with workers now concentrating on removing debris and manicuring the lawn on the turf.
The former Young Warriors coach said it was somewhat a burden to play home matches some 140km away from their base.
“Obviously the situation affects us in a very big way. We have to travel for about 280km to and from Gibbo to host matches.
“That means we have limited recovery time before travelling again unlike other teams using their home venues. As a coach, you need the ideal conditions and we are hopeful that we will be able to host our home games at the GreenFuel Arena in the coming weeks”.
Dhlakama adopted a team which has average players and he revealed yesterday that he will be adding at least five big names to the squad in the mid-season transfer window.
“We certainly need very good players. We are lining up big names who we are targeting this window. If we manage to sign them, then I think we will be able to compete with the best in the league.”
Online Reporter