Online Reporter
Langton Nyakwenda
Zimpapers Sport Hub
THE Castle Lager Premier Soccer League is serving up a classic David vs Goliath battle this Sunday, and Triangle United coach Genesis “Kaka” Mangombe is daring to dream.
With the Lowveld side languishing second from bottom, 21 points adrift of high-flying MWOS, the odds are stacked, but Mangombe is unfazed.
“We are not going to be pushovers,” he declared with defiance. “We are fighting against relegation, and it’s going to be a tall order for MWOS.”
Triangle United, bruised, but not broken, face a formidable challenge at home at Gibbo against unbeaten log leaders MWOS, and they intend to make life difficult for the log leaders.
Mangombe, who returned to the Zimbabwean top flight on April 20 after a stint in Tanzania, has had a turbulent spell so far.
But the gaffer remains upbeat, especially after his side held Chicken Inn to a gritty draw away at Luveve last week.
“Now, we want to win at home, make our supporters happy and also move up the table,” said the 38-year-old. “We need to be more serious at home and make sure we do whatever it takes to get a good result.”
Fans will not miss a moment, thanks to ZTN Prime, who will carry the match live on channel 294 on DStv, complete with pre-match analysis.
MWOS, polished, disciplined and undefeated, have impressed many this season. And Mangombe is among those who have taken notice.
“MWOS are doing very well,” he admitted. “They are a bit more professional in terms of how they do their things. They are a determined lot, and they pay attention to detail.”
But the Triangle coach is not in awe. In fact, he has laid down a challenge.
“They are not very talented, but they have people who want to work and want to achieve. So, we are not going to underrate them, but we are going to make it very, very difficult for them. It’s going to be tough for MWOS at Gibbo.”
Mangombe’s insight into MWOS goes back to their Northern Region Soccer League (NRSL) days.
The last time he faced them was in a heated 1-1 draw at Ngoni Stadium, while he was still at the helm of Scottland, a game that ended in chaos after the final whistle.
Although Scottland eventually edged MWOS to win the NRSL title, Mangombe was sacked before resurfacing in Tanzania.
His return to Zimbabwean football with Triangle is now marked by a new mission: Survival.
Only four points separate Triangle from 13th-placed Chicken Inn, and struggling giants Dynamos sit just a point above the Lowveld outfit, underlining how congested and unpredictable the lower half of the table is.
“We are still to get to the halfway stage of the season, so we still have a lot of games to play,” Mangombe observed. “A win against MWOS will boost our morale. Teams are still not far away from us.”
There is a sense of belief slowly brewing in the Triangle camp.
The players are beginning to adapt to Mangombe’s philosophy, and the coach believes the recent break helped fine-tune some key areas.
“We’ve been working on our defence. Of late, that shape was collapsing all the time, and it’s not recommended at this level.
“So, we’ve been working on it week in, week out, every day, morning and afternoon,” he said.
Mangombe had warm words for his opposite number, Lloyd Mutasa.
“Mutasa is a big brother. He plays some good football, so we are going to give fans an entertaining match,” he said.
“You know, I also play a passing game, one that has intensity as well, and I also try to make sure we maintain a solid shape.”
The Triangle coach remains convinced his side are better than the table suggests.
“We have not been playing badly, save for that game against Simba Bhora when we allowed them to score four,” he said.
“When we played Manica Diamonds, we had the upper hand, but unfortunately lost after missing a lot of chances. This shows you we are not a bad side.”
Triangle’s upcoming fixtures offer a glimmer of hope.
After MWOS, they face bottom-placed Kwekwe United in Gweru midweek, followed by a juicy reunion with Mangombe’s former employers, Scottland, this time at Gibbo.
“We also have to focus on the next two games before the transfer window opens,” he said.
“But we are coming up, and I am happy with the way my boys have been responding.”
Whether it is about pride, points or plain old survival, Triangle’s showdown with MWOS promises high drama, and it is live on ZTN Prime.
