Dynamos preps in false start

Sports Reporter
Harare giants Dynamos failed to kick start their preparations for next year’s Champions League yesterday.  DeMbare were scheduled to regroup yesterday after the players had been given a week’s break for the Christmas holidays.But team manager Richard Chihoro said the Harare giants had overlooked “logistical” challenges which have made it difficult for them to start as planned.

Chihoro said the Glamour Boys are now aiming to get their programme next week when they hope to have put everything in order.
“We could not start today (yesterday) because there are many things that need to be considered before starting these preparations.

“There are logistical challenges like transport for the players and the coaches, camping and all which need to be sorted out.
“So we will only start when these things have are in place,” said Chihoro.

However, speculation is rife that there is discontent in the Glamour Boys camp as a number of players are owed various amounts in signing-on fees and winning bonuses for defending their league championship crown.

The Harare giants will proceed without six key players and head coach, Callisto Pasuwa, who is currently in camp with the Warriors for the African Nations Championship.

His untested lieutenant Philemon Mutyakureva and goalkeepers’ coach Tichaona Diya are expected to conduct the pre-season training in the absence of Pasuwa.

The championship-winning coach and six of his players – goalkeeper George Chigova, Oscar Machapa, Partson Jaure, Augustine Mbara, Tawanda Muparati and newly acquired former Buffaloes defender Themba Ndlovu – are busy with the CHAN preparations.

While some of the players could be dropped and join the rest of the squad in preparations, Pasuwa might be away for longer as the Chan tournament will get underway on January 11 and the final is slated for February 1.

Pasuwa might only return a week before the opening match of the Champions League campaign against Botswana’s Mochudi centre Chiefs on February 7 if the Warriors make it to the final.