adminRay Bande Senior Sports Reporter
FORMER Dynamos defence lynchpin believes that the appointment of Portuguese expatriate George Paulo Silva as the Dynamos gaffer was a big mistake and his tenure at the country’s best supported outfit will be short-lived.
Silva went into the history books of domestic football all for the wrong reasons when he led the Glamour Boys to their first defeat in a season opened, something that the team last experienced half a decade ago.
As if that enough, his post match comment irked many a DeMbare faithful when he insinuated that the team played well albeit the 0-3 defeat at the hands of ‘a big team’, in apparent reference to Castle Lager Premiership reigning champions Chicken Inn.
As Dynamos travel to Chiredzi for yet another tricky date against Triangle set for Gibbo Stadium tomorrow, Maphuya, who was part of the history-making Dynamos outfit that reached the finals of the Champions League back in 2008, added his voice to the growing chorus of discontent rocking the Dynamos family saying his very appointment was a ‘a big mistake’.
The diminutive Chipinge born former defence stalwart also took a swipe at the current crop of players turning out for DeMbare saying they lack the never-say-die spirit that used to be indelible part of the yesteryear Dynamos players.
“I think the appointment of George Paulo Silva as the Dynamos coach was a big mistake. He has no understanding whatsoever of what Dynamos represents in this country. For Dynamos every match is a cup final and one needs to approach every match with such mentality.
“He is making Dynamos look like an ordinary team. I doubt very much whether he will be able to last the distance. I personally think he will soon learn that DeMbare is not a team you can remain as a coach while getting mediocre results.
“I was a bit disturbed to learn that he actually praised the player for playing well when in actual fact they went down 3-0. The truth is that the players turning out for Dynamos at the moment lack the zeal to go an extra mile.
“They seem not to have the club at heart. They (players) seem to lack understanding of what it means to wear that Dynamos blue and white jersey. Maybe we just no longer have the calibre of players that used to raise the game for Dynamos from the likes of Vitalis Takawira, Memory Muchirahohwa down to the likes of Justice Mjabvi, Edward Sadomba, to mention a few,” said Mapuya.
Fixtures:
Friday: Harare City FC v Mutare City Rovers (Rufaro Stadium 1500hrs SS):
Saturday: Bulawayo City FC v Tsholotsho FC (Barbourfields Stadium); How Mine FC v ZPC Kariba FC (Luveve Stadium): Chapungu FC v Hwange FC (Ascot Stadium); Ngezi Platinum Stars v Caps United FC (TBA): Dynamos FC v Triangle United FC (Rufaro Stadium 1500hrs SS):
Sunday: Border Strikers FC v Chicken Inn FC (TBA); Highlanders FC v FC Platinum (Barbourfields Stadium):
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