Dynamos extend stay in Bots

Curtworth Masango, Harare Bureau

Dynamos will not be returning to Harare this week but will connect to Zambia where they face Zesco United in the second leg of the CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round at the weekend.

The Chibuku Super Cup holders won the first leg 1-0 in Gaborone on Sunday courtesy of a 30th-minute goal from Tanaka Shandirwa.

Dynamos remained in camp at the Royal Arena complex that is owned by Township Rollers owner Tendani Sebata and will retain the 20-man squad for the return leg in Zambia.

A club representative told Zimpapers Sports the plans ahead of the second leg.

“They (the team) are not coming back to Zimbabwe. Instead, they will be stationed in Botswana until they go to South Africa, from where they will connect to Ndola, Zambia. The team is at Royal Arena, which belongs to the owner of Township Rollers.

“The 20-man squad remains in camp preparing to fight in Ndola. Generally, the club has kept the welfare of the players well. They are all happy and all is going well. They have all gotten their allowances but the club will not disclose figures.”

Clubs who are participating in the preliminary rounds are set to receive US$50 000 for the first time in the history of the competition.

However, Dynamos said they have not received a formal communication on the good news from the national association, Zifa.

“Yes of course the club has seen the news of the money by CAF but it hasn’t been communicated to the club officially. We have a ZIFA representative with us and he confirmed that the development hasn’t been made official.

“But as a club, we are targeting the big prize. There is a total of US$2 million for the winners and US$400 000 for the mini-league. That is what we are eyeing as a club.

“In case that you got eliminated in the preliminaries that is when you find yourself getting the US$50 000 and as a club we are eyeing for something bigger than that.

“Going into the next game we believe that all our technical team and players are in good state of mind and well-motivated to deliver,” he said.