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The Dynmaos camp had on the eve of their departure been left fretting over the fitness of Warriors centre-back Jaure after the defender missed training at Zimphos grounds on Tuesday as he was too sick to take part in the practice session.
Jaure had been vomiting for long spells and his condition seemed to worry coach Callisto Pasuwa, who has limited options in his Champions League squad with the gaffer concerned about whether his defender would be fit enough for the tough task that awaits them in the Tunisian town of Bizertin.
The Warriors defender has been one of the most consistent performers for the Glamour Boys since his arrival from former Northern Region Division One outfit La Liga and is once again expected to partner Gift Bello in the heart of defence.
Despite having been down on Tuesday, Jaure yesterday appeared in better spirits as the Dynamos delegation completed their check-in formalities at the Harare International Airport ahead of their flight, which took them from Harare to Dubai, en route to Tunis for the match set for the October 15 Stadium.
Interestingly, Jaure appears to have caught the attention of the Tunisians with his image being selected to feature on the posters advertising the countdown to the big match on the CAB official website.
Midfielders Tawanda Muparati and Deveon Chafa also had niggling injuries that were worrying Pasuwa as did newboy Franscisco Zekumbawira, but, just like Jaure, the trio made the trip to the North African country. DeMbare vice-captain Muparati, who injured his finger during the second leg of the preliminary round against Lesotho Correctional Services, also travelled although he still sported a plaster on his finger.
Defensive midfielder Chafa, who is expected to provide the first line of cover for Jaure and Bello, said his teammates were ready to pull off a good result in Tunisia where they are expected to arrive this afternoon.
Chafa, who provides the grit in midfield, said the DeMbare players have put behind them the nightmare of the 6-0 drubbing they suffered at the hands of former African champions Esperance in the second round of the 2012 edition.
“We will try to do our best and get a very positive result from this game. I think we still have to prove that the embarrassing defeat in the past was due to other circumstances.
“As a team, we have learnt from our mistakes and we should forget what happened against Esperance the last time out and try to get a good result,” said Chafa.
The last time Dynamos were in Tunisia, they suffered their worst humiliation in continental club football in 32 years and Chafa has vowed that this time around they will be more cautious in their approach to the game.
“What happened the last time was something beyond us.
“Now we are prepared for good football.
“Mentally we are ready and I do not think we should allow anything to frustrate us, neither the match officials nor the reception should it be hostile,” said Chafa.
Dynamos will have to make do with the underdog tag against CAB, who were crowned African Cup Winners Cup champions in 1988.
Chafa is, however, hopeful that a win or a draw would help make their job easier in the reverse fixture at Rufaro.
DeMbare also know they have to avoid the kind of nightmare they suffered against Esperance and against MC Alger in Algeria, the year before, by fighting for a result that will ensure there would still be everything to fight for when they host CAB in Harare.
While Dynamos were being boosted by Jaure’s recovery and that of Chafa, Muparati and Zekumbwarira, their hosts in Sunday’s game were undergoing major changes in their dressing room.
CAB this week appointed a new coach, Mondher Kebaier, who conducted his first training session with the team on Tuesday at the venue of Sunday’s showdown with Dynamos.
According to reports from Tunis, Kebaiber was fired from Etoile Sportive Du Sahel two weeks ago but has now found a home as he replaces Algerian national Noureddine Saadi as head of the technical team. CA Bizertin have also appointed Mohammed Ben Massoud as the new fitness trainer, replacing another Algerian, Kacem Selim.
Ironically, Etoile Du Sahel were the Tunisian club that were at the receiving end of a stunning 1-0 defeat by Dynamos in Sousse in 2008, as David Mandigora’s class sealed a 2-0 aggregate win to set the platform for their fairytale Champions League run which took them to the semi-finals.
CAB president Mehdi Ben Gharbia introduced Kebaiber to the players on Tuesday afternoon and the coach’s immediate assignment will now be the Champions League clash against Dynamos.
Kebaiber, a former player for Bizertin, would probably recall the manner in which Dynamos upstaged Etoile Du Sahel in as much as he would also be hoping to emulate Esperance’s feat last year, when they trampled on the Harare giants. But such is the hype that Sunday’s match has created in the town of Bizertin that fans are said to have already started jostling for pre-match tickets that go on sale tomorrow.
Online Reporter