Online Reporter
Veronica Gwaze
Zimpapers Sports Hub
WHEN Yadah Stars host fellow strugglers Dynamos at Ngoni, in Norton this afternoon, Shadreck Nyahwa will be carrying a huge burden on his shoulder.
The defender will be putting on the armband, standing in for captain Emmanuel Jalai who is suspended for accu-mulating yellow-cards.
While it is not new for Nyahwa to stand in for Jalai, there is something peculiar about this fixture.
Nyahwa led the blue army for two games when Jalai picked up an injury earlier in the season.
But today’s game is a different assignment.
Both teams need victory to enhance their survival chances.
Nyahwa’s leadership skills, experience and ability to inspire his teammates will be put to the test today.
“This is a very big game which I believe we need to treat like a cup game, we will not leave anything to chance, we have to fight with our all,” said Nyahwa.
“It will not be an easy game; it is a do-or-die fixture in which the outcome could have lasting implications on both me and the team.
“I have held the armband for Jalai once in the past but everything feels different now, we need a win at all costs so I have to step up to the giant responsibility.”
Dynamos currently find themselves in 13th place on the 18 teams log table after collecting 37 points from 32 games while Yadah are 17th with 34 points.
Both Dynamos and Yadah are in a tough relegation battle that involves at least nine teams, all of whom are fighting to secure their place in the top-flight.
The urgency for the two sides to secure maximum points today cannot be overstated.
A win for Dynamos moves them to a safer position, and spares them of a lot of pressure in their last game of the season.
For a side that has gone for nine league games undefeated, Nyahwa would not want to be remembered as the man who captained Dynamos to a defeat that could see them going under.
“Everyone is aware of the magnitude of the task at hand, even in training you could tell that commitment and mo-tivation is there,” he said.
“It means I have to be a leader and hold the team together, motivate them as well as play and fight like a leader.”
Nyahwa admits that the team will miss Jalai, a leader who has been putting in an extra shift since the start of the season.
The captain’s influence, Nyahwa said, would play a key role in bringing stability to the team as they face a tricky opponent that has a lot of experienced players.
Yadah have seasoned players who include goalkeeper Tymon Mvula, former international forward Evans Rusike, Jerry Chipangura, Innocent Mucheneka, ex-Namibian national team player Sadney Urikhob who can inspire them to victory.
“We will miss him, Jalai has a lot of attributes that have played a crucial role on the team.
“He understands all of us, stands as a big brother and leader on any day and his national team experience has also helped us a lot.
“To repay his sacrifice we will do our best to play and win it for him today, that’s the noble thing to do in return for his big heart and even for our fans.”
Nyahwa said despite playing away from Harare, Dynamos will still bank on their fan base considering that they have followers in almost every town.
Kaindu could deploy Tendai Magwaza as Jalai’s direct replacement in the right back position.
The Zambian gaffer, could also call former Bikita Minerals defender Denis Nhongo to duty.
