adminEddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
RELEGATION fighters Flame Lily have vowed to give champions Dynamos a good run when the sides clash in a Castle Lager Premiership match at Lafarge this afternoon. Now under the tutelage of youthful coach Takesure Chiragwi, the newboys are appear to be in high spirits in their relegation fight. Chiragwi yesterday told The Herald that they were keen to reproduce the form that saw them crash Triangle 3-0 in their last assignment.
“I believe we have done our groundwork and it’s quite obvious we want to play and win, just like Dynamos. Both teams have something to play for. “We want the points to survive relegation. I have talked to my players and I am sure they all know the business at hand.
“I am particularly happy with the way we applied ourselves against Triangle. I’m sure it gave us the confidence that we need at this moment. “I just hope that we will continue believing in ourselves and that the boys will be able to take it up from where we left off. The good thing is everyone is optimistic that we can turn things around in the last five games and possibly survive the chop,” said Chiragwi.
Dynamos had a tough afternoon when the sides met for the first time this year at Rufaro. Flame Lily matched the Glamour Boys in all departments only for the 89th minute lapse in concentration which handed DeMbare a 1-0 win.
The prison side will miss the services of Effort Kopeni and Ben Musaka through injuries but Chiragwi will still have enough arsenal with players like Gift Phiri, Brighton Chandisaita, Motion Muponda, Tendai Huwa and Zimbabwe Under-23 midfielder Edwin Madhananga.
Dynamos coach Tonderai Ndiraya said they were looking to reap maximum points from the tie but would not underrate their opponents. “I think they are quite stubborn. They are in the same class as Tsholotsho FC and if you look at the games they have played before against the big guns, they have lost narrowly. So it gives us an indication of their strength.
“But we are quite prepared in all aspects of the game despite the absence of some of our players. We expect a very tough game also given the fact that we are playing at Lafarge which is not a very good pitch to play football.
“So we have to adjust and make sure that we get a result. That is what we are aiming for,” said Ndiraya. DeMbare are set to welcome vice-captain Stephen Alimenda, who missed the last match against Harare City due to suspension, while Ghanaian attacking midfielder Erick Opoku and Brett Amidu also look set to be included in their final 18-member squad.
Fixtures
Today
Tsholotsho v Whawha (White City), Harare City v How Mine (Rufaro), Flame Lily v Dynamos (Lafarge)
Tomorrow
Dongo Sawmill v ZPC Kariba (Vengere), Buffaloes v Hwange (Sakubva)
Wednesday
Chapungu v Highlanders (Ascot), Chicken Inn v FC Platinum (Luveve)
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