Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi-Zimpapers Sports Hub
DYNAMOS coach Saul Chaminuka was trapped in mixed emotions yesterday as he did not know whether to celebrate the return of skipper Emmanuel Jalai or lament the absence of vice-captain Shadreck Nyahwa ahead of an important trip to Shamva to face champions Simba Bhora at Wadzanayi tomorrow.
Jalai, who missed six games after picking up an injury during Warriors, has recovered in time for the assignment.
But Jalai’s influential deputy, Nyahwa, misses the trip to Shamva because of a Premier Soccer League suspension after amassing three yellow cards.
Nyahwa’s absence will be a blow to the already shaky Dynamos defence.
However, Chaminuka also felt some cool breeze blowing over his camp this week, with the signing of new players that include midfielder Wisdom Mutasa and the foreign trio of defender Felix Hammond, striker Mohammed Issaka (both from Ghana) and Zambian goalkeeper Sitali Nyambe.
DeMbare also have veterans Allan Gahadzikwa and Denver Mukamba training with the team.
But the absence of Nyahwa, the scorer of the solitary goal when Dynamos beat Simba Bhora in the reverse fixture at Rufaro, has been viewed as a huge setback to the Glamour Boys.
“It is a great, great, great blow,” said Chaminuka.
“It’s too big a blow. But football has it that we have 30 players to register. Out goes Nyahwa, in comes captain Jalai.”
Chaminuka is looking to deploy his secret weapons against Simba Bhora.
Midfielders Mutasa and Gahadzikwa in particular have caught his attention at training, with the latter yesterday scoring a brilliant volley from distance towards the end of their morning session.
“Yes, we also have maybe a surprise here and there of a few players that we managed to get during this window,” said Chaminuka.
“I think it is going to boost some confidence, with some new boys on the stage. They would also want to show what they have and we have given them the greenlight to express themselves in trying to come up with solutions to our problems.”
Dynamos are experiencing their worst top-flight campaign, sitting second from the bottom going into Week 21.
The talk of relegation has been growing louder with each passing week, as DeMbare have been struggling to win games to ease their worries.
A return of only two wins in 19 starts spells doom for the 21-time Zimbabwe champions.
“Of course, as coach I have had a lot of one-on-one to try and motivate the team. There have been a lot of motivational sessions with the team as individuals, in their groups, in their departments and of course as a whole team.
“I think we have spoken, and we have agreed as a team that we are going to fight and we are going to come out of relegation.
“We are not relegated yet. There are plenty of points to play for and we haven’t panicked yet and I’m sure the Wadzanai game is one that we are targeting to turn around our situation.”
But there are a lot of uncertainties on his part as this will be the first time that Chaminuka will be playing at the Shamva venue.
“It’s a very, very difficult game, especially away at Wadzanai. But I want to think the boys are ready. I have the experience that when you play the so-called teams of the moment, every team ups its game and I hope it is going to be the same with us.
“I have never played at Wadzanai. It will be my first visit to Shamva and I hope it will be a good visit, one that is going to be giving us something to smile at. We have prepared well.
“We have always been working more on finishing, which has always been our biggest worry. And I hope this time around we will score goals and come out of Wadzanai smiling,” said Chaminuka.
