Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
RESURGENT Dynamos will move to second on the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League log standings if they manage to work their way past champions Scottland in their Harare derby clash at Rufaro this afternoon.
But for all their revival, this is one fixture the Glamour Boys know they would do more to pull off a victory, given Scottland are also unbeaten and looking to maintain a narrow gap between leaders CAPS United and them.
The duel is expected to be explosive given that Dynamos lost by a massive 5-0 margin when being out-played and out-laboured in the Castle Challenge final at the same venue less than two months ago.
However, two months is a lot of time in football, and Dynamos have gone on to find their rhythm and sit just a point ahead of Scottland.
Both sides are also unbeaten so far.
There has been a lot of talk around this fixture with either side trying to be meticulous in preparing for it.
Scottland will step into it with their tails up just four days after lifting the Independence Trophy after beating Highlanders 1-0 in the final at Maphisa Stadium.
Dynamos coach Genesis Mangombe, aware of the tough task before him, indicated that his charges had up-scaled their efforts during the week of preparations.
“We have done a lot in preparations for this game. I think we have ample time to prepare for this game, since it is also very crucial for us.
“The good thing is, we are playing, you know, at Rufaro which is our home ground although we are playing away, technically.
“This is a special assignment for us given that 5-0 mauling we suffered the last time out.
“We will not disappoint this time around. As for the team, I’m happy with the squad. The boys are eager and are showing a lot of hunger building up to this fixture.
“The last time out, it was a cup game and our application didn’t come out quite well. But we now have a system that we are following. Everything is coming out just right for us. We are ready to face them.”
For Mangombe, the match against Scottland is another opportunity to show them what kind of a man they failed to treat well after they fired him hardly a month after winning promotion into the top-flight without tasting defeat in 17 games in 2024.
Mangombe almost upset the Scottland title march last year when he led Triangle to a goalless draw against the Mabvuku side who were fighting for the championship.
“Football is like that. I am a professional and revenge isn’t part of the mission. I am just working hard to make Dynamos a better team,” he said.
“The match against Scottland isn’t going to be easy given the big names they have in their camp.
“But Dynamos is a big team and we want to compete. We have to do ourselves a favour. That’s as simple as that.”
Mangombe was by yesterday still praying to have right back Christopher Netty pass a late fitness test.
Midfielder Perfect Chikwende, who won Dynamos a penalty that earned them a 1-1 draw against FC Platinum could as well be out of this game through illness.
Both players reported for duty yesterday with the medical staff busy working on them.
The rest of the players are fit though and Tendaishe Magwaza can step into the right-back position with either Witness Shave or Enasio Perezo expected to fill in Chikwende’s void in the event that the former Bulawayo Chiefs man fails to recover in time for the game.
It’s not only Mangombe, who wants to win this game with captain Shadreck Nyahwa emphasising that: “As players, we are itching to win this game.
“We have told each other that we need to win at all costs.”
