dyton mupawaenda
Langton Nyakwenda
DYNAMOS are in Botswana on a multipronged mission.
They are not out there just to soothe the souls of their legendary seven million supporters, but they also want to make the nation proud.
DeMbare are also itching to prove a point that they are still a giant, despite some unassertive performances in the local Premier Soccer League.
And much more will be expected from Dynamos, when they tackle ZESCO United in a CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round first leg fixture at the National Stadium in Gaborone, Botswana on Sunday.
The team left Harare for Gaborone, via Johannesburg, yesterday morning.
They will train at the facilities provided by Botswana giants Township Rollers before plunging into battle at 3PM on Sunday.
DeMbare are making a return to continental football after a 10-year hiatus and their coach Lloyd “MaBlanyo” Chigowe says his boys are eager to make Zimbabwe proud.
“The boys are itching to get into the fight and everybody who has been selected is eager to prove a point,” Chigowe told Zimpapers Sport, a few hours before the team departed for Gaborone.
Dynamos are hosting ZESCO United in Gaborone because Zimbabwe does not have a stadium fit to host CAF organized matches.
The return leg will be played at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola, Zambia, next weekend.
The last time Dynamos played in Africa was in March 2014, when they were knocked out of the CAF Champions League First Round, by DR Congo side AS Vita.
But the Harare giants are back hunting in the African jungle after winning the 2023 Chibuku Super Cup.
Chigowe, who was thrust into the hot seat early this month, following the departure of Genesis Mangombe, is also hoping to make a name in the CAF Confederation Cup, despite this being his debut.
“It has been a very long time since Dynamos played in Africa, so this is a momentous occasion,” he says.
Dynamos drew 1-1 against high riding Simba Bhora in their last Premiership match and Chigowe stressed the need for the Mbare side to prove that they are a top team.
DeMbare are 21-time league champions and remain the only club from Zimbabwe to reach the CAF Champions League final.
They did so in 1998 and also reached the semis a decade later.
“We are not only representing ourselves and the seven million souls, but the nation as whole because Dynamos are a football powerhouse.
“We hope to acquit ourselves in this encounter against ZESCO so that we make Zimbabweans proud,” added the well-spoken Chigowe.
On paper, Dynamos’ players are better than their opponents in terms of match fitness.
While DeMbare have played 23 games in the local Premier Soccer League, the Zambian top flight is still off season, as it conforms to the August-May calendar.
The two sides are meeting in Africa for the first time.
While Dynamos’ last dance on the African stage was way back in 2014, ZESCO played in the 2022 CAF Confederation Cup when they were knocked out in the second preliminary round by Royal AM of South Africa.
ZESCO have qualified for the CAF Confederation Cup six times and their best run was a quarterfinal berth in 2017.
They have qualified for the CAF Champions League on nine occasions and their best achievement was a semi-final place in 2016.
DeMbare’s best performance in Africa was a final appearance against ASEC Mimosas of Ivory Coast back in 1998.
A decade later, the Harare giants reached the semis of the same competition.
Online Reporter