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Eddie Chikamhi Senior Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO Chiefs, who spent almost half the week battling player mutiny, have vowed to burst Dynamos’ bubble the same way they spoiled the party for the Harare giants when they handed them their first defeat of the season earlier in the year.
DeMbare are returning to Barbourfields with their tails up today, just a few days after outclassing local giants Highlanders at the same venue, in a match that was abandoned after 38 minutes due to crowd trouble.
Dynamos were leading 2-0 and threatening to completely overrun their opponents when the game was called off, as they maintained a five match unbeaten run.
DeMbare find themselves in almost similar circumstances when they played the Ninjas in the first round matches.
The Glamour Boys were unbeaten in their opening four league matches of the season when Chiefs, who had not won a match in five outings then, handed them a shock 2-3 defeat at the National Sports Stadium.
It was also the first time DeMbare conceded this season, with veteran Danny Phiri burying a brace and Mthokozisi Msebe adding the other goal to trigger the Ninjas’ brief revival.
Chiefs, however, go into the match today on the back of disruptions in their camp after boycotting two days of training to press for the payment of outstanding dues.
Coach Johannes Nhumwa yesterday said his team was focused on collecting maximum points after going on a seven-match winless run.
They also welcomed top marksman Obriel Chirinda who missed the 1-1 draw with Chicken Inn last week because of suspension. Chirinda is the league’s current joint top goal scorer with Manica Diamonds’ Fortune Binzi, after finding the back of the nets nine times this season.
“We are going to play as per plan,” said Nhumwa.
“We have played big teams like Highlanders and FC Platinum some time back, it is more or less one and the same game.
“We will be at home at Barbourfields. Whether we play in Lesotho, if we are at home, we are at home and will play as such.
“We are two different teams. They have their own tactics and we have ours, so we will meet on the pitch and see what happens. But at the end of the 90 minutes we should be the winners.
“We are happy with the return Obriel Chirinda. He was not part of the team when we played Chicken Inn. So, it’s a boost for him to be available for this game,” said Nhumwa.
Our Bulawayo Bureau reported yesterday that the Chiefs players managed to go through their paces yesterday morning after engaging in a two-day training boycott during the midweek.
It was only their second training session of the week.
“Yes we managed to train today (yesterday) and I’m happy,” said Nhumwa.
Fixtures
Today: Bulawayo Chiefs v Dynamos (Barbourfields), Cranborne Bullets v Hwange (Nyamhunga), Herentals v Black Rhinos (Mandava), Ngezi Platinum Stars v GreenFuel (Baobab), Manica Diamonds v ZPC Kariba (Gibbo)
Tomorrow: Highlanders v Yadah (Barbourfields), Triangle v FC Platinum (Gibbo), CAPS United v Chicken Inn (Bata), Simba Bhora v Sheasham (Baobab
Online Reporter