Dynamos prepare for Champions League

Sikhumbuzo Moyo Acting Sports Editor
DYNAMOS Football Club begin their Caf Champions League preparations today without six key players and head coach, Callisto Pasuwa.
Pasuwa is in camp with the national team as well as six of his players – goalkeeper George Chigova, Oscar Machapa, Partson Jaure, Augustine Mbara, Tawanda Muparati and newly acquired former Buffaloes defender Themba Ndlovu.
Zimbabwe Warriors are in camp in preparation of the African Nations Championship (Chan) that will be held in South Africa from next month.

“We resume our preparations tomorrow (today) without our coach and six players. It’s a concern for us but we understand the situation we are in. We met Pasuwa and members of his technical team on Monday where we were given a programme that has to be followed on the preparations,” said Dynamos secretary general Webster Chikengezha.

He said the team will be under acting assistant coach Philemon Mutyakureva and goalkeepers’ trainer Tichaona Diya.
Dynamos has not had a substantive assistant coach since the resignation of Tonderayi Ndiraya earlier this year following a rocky relationship with Pasuwa.

Former son and relegated Monomotapa coach Biggie Zuze is likely to join the Glamour Boys following recommendations from Pasuwa.
“Pasuwa recommended Zuze for the assistant’s post but at the moment nothing has been concluded.  No deal yet but it was his (Pasuwa’s) choice,” said Chikengezha.

If the six players make it into the 23 travelling squad, which looks highly likely, they will rejoin the 2013 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League winners with just under a week before the preliminary round match against Mochudi Centre Chiefs of Botswana unless Ian Gorowa’s team gets knocked out in the early stages of the tournament.

The Chan tourney roars into life on January 11 and ends on February 2 next year while Dynamos’ first match will be over the weekend of February 7-9.

“It’s a Catch-22 situation for the club. It would have been ideal to have all our players and the coach but again, they are on national team duty. The six players will actually come in more fitter,” said Chikengezha.

Meanwhile, Dynamos have confirmed the signing of unheralded Walter Mukanga from Hippo Valley while Tafadzwa Rusike’s deal is set to be sealed this afternoon.

The duo will join Themba and Ronald Chitiyo in the Dynamos dressing room as the Glamour Boys seek to fortify their arsenal for the bruising African Safari.