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Coach Callisto Pasuwa expressed dismay at the unfortunate occurrence as seven players — including first choice goalkeeper Washington Arubi — sprawled on the ground for much of yesterday’s final training session at the match venue, grimacing in pain with recurrent injuries just as the mood in camp had brightened with players’ outstanding bonuses finally delivered to their pockets following a long week of uncertainty.
Influential striker Takesure Chinyama sustained a knock on his troublesome knee and sat out the second segment of the two-hour training session while team doctor Nathan Makanza and physiotherapist Knowledge Zambo put their heads together battling to bring him back to shape.
Rodreck Mutuma, the resurgent forward who could otherwise start in place of Chinyama, had his own ankle worry which also needed the attention of the medical team while midfielders Denver Mukamba and Devon Chafa complained of groin and back pains respectively and David Kutyauripo winced with a nagging ligament sprain.
Giant goalkeeper Arubi was the first among them to be declared fit again after a 30-minute resuscitation that arose from an exhaustive training programme with his deputy Phillip Nhete under the command of trainer Tichaona Diya and will take his place in goal as the Zimbabwean champions aim at thwarting Esperance’s anticipated charge before an expected massive crowd at Tunisia’s prime football facility.
Pasuwa’s men were otherwise in an ebullient mood, fully ready to confront the hosts and most of them spent the day scattered around their spacious beachfront hotel occupying themselves with different recreational activities as they relaxed ahead of a testing fixture they are very much looking forward to.
Some swam on the Mediterranean shores, with others engaged on the snooker table at the multi-purpose hotel while others were engrossed in table-tennis, chess or a game of water-polo in the Olympic size swimming pool situated in the centre of the rectangular resort facility.
Captain George Magariro was his usual cheerful self as he basked in the sun by the poolside, warning Esperance not to expect too much respect from the battle-hardened Harare side.
Speaking in his last interview with members of the Zimbabwean media before the game, Pasuwa reiterated that they would first play to restrict the Tunisians before pushing forward in the latter part of the proceedings.
“I know Esperance will come at us like anything in the first 30 minutes or so. I have told the boys to be ready for that onslaught. There are the usual issues of yellow cards or even red cards to expect when playing in North Africa and we must not be frustrated to the extent of losing our focus because we still have the second leg at home where we can overturn any deficit suffered. So we must remain on our feet until the final whistle,” said Pasuwa.
He said it was important for players not to lose concentration.
Dynamos squandered a 4-1 first leg lead in the first leg of their clash with Algeria’s MC Alger at the same stage last year and succumbed to a 0-3 loss. Pasuwa said his friend Mutasa told him the players gave up after trailing 0-2 in that tie.
Esperance opened up to the media yesterday after a week’s closely-guarded preparation as they seek the rare feat of retaining the trophy they won after outshining Moroccan side Wydad Casablanca in last year’s final. Swiss coach Michel DeCastel addressed a press conference in Tunis in which Zimbabwean journalists were invited and intimated that they were hopeful of a three-goal winning margin in the first leg.
“I may not know the individual Dynamos players but I have some key information on the team in general. They employ a defensive formation when away and will likely start with a 4-5-1 formation. They also have four technically good players, including the goalkeeper, and we have been working on unsettling them,’” said DeCastel, who joined the Tunisian side early this year.
Online Reporter