adminAN hour after the Dynamos team bus left Motor Action training ground last Thursday, coaches Lloyd Chigowe and Murape Murape went for lunch – but for rising goalkeeper Simba Chinani there was no time to rest.
The 22-year-old Chinani stayed on the pitch for an extra 1 hour 30 minutes after first team training concluded, doing additional work in the company of Dynamos Junior ‘keepers.
He concentrated mainly on his footwork, ball distribution and crosses; these having been highlighted as some of his weaknesses since wrestling the DeMbare No 1 jersey from Tonderai Mateyaunga in June.
Chinani does this routinely from Monday to Thursday.
Described by DeMbare coach Chigowe as a shining star after two stunning saves in the Chibuku Super Cup quarterfinal penalty shootout win over Herentals on Sunday, Chinani is slowly convincing pundits he could be Dynamos’ next big find after Tatenda Mkuruva.
Yet only a year ago Chinani was a social league player after failing to nail a first team place at Walter Magaya’s Yadah Stars.
Today he is one of the players Dynamos look up to when they engage eternal rivals Caps United and continue with their fight against relegation at Rufaro this afternoon.
“I believe if you train extra hard it helps you grow career wise. I am working mainly on my ball distribution because my aim is to become a complete keeper,” said Chinani, who lost his father when he was still a toddler back in 1996.
“This is my first Harare Derby so I guess I needed to prepare for it well but that is not to say I am under pressure. Only God knows how that game will pan out.”
Moments before Chinani started his extra workout last Thursday, assistant coach Murape delivered a powerful team talk.
King Mura, as the Dynamos assistant coach is known, tore into players he believes are not playing up to DeMbare’s vaunted standards.
Afterwards he told The Sunday Mail Sport what he thinks of Chinani.
“I think there’s a lot that needs to be done in terms of how we recruit players. It’s important for players to be taught what it means to play for Dynamos before they are signed,” said Murape.
“What Chinani is doing now is something that comes from within and it’s easy to work with a player like him.
“Look here, Chinani is the first choice keeper but still he stays behind doing more. I say well done to Chinani for showing the way, you can see with his performances, he was an average player when he joined Dynamos but has vastly improved.
“Dynamos are where they are today because of bad player attitude and if we continue in this path then the unthinkable might happen.”
DeMbare are on 31 points and occupy the last relegation slot having lost their last five games.
The ailing Harare giants have not scored in over 450 minutes of Castle Lager Premiership action and now have a fresh problem.
Star player Denver Mukamba went AWOL last Sunday when Dynamos beat Herentals in the Chibuku Cup but attended training late last week. Then skipper Ocean Mushure never pitched up for training all week.
“If Ocean Mushure is trying to push for a move away from the club then he should do it in a proper way,” an irate Dynamos coach Chigowe said.
“I believe no player is irreplaceable, the only problem is that we inherited this team well after the midseason window. But I believe we can still do it (survive relegation) and we will put up a team that is ready to fight against Caps United.”
Dynamos lost 0-1 to Caps United in the reverse fixture with Mukamba scoring for the Green Machine while still on loan to that club.
Fixtures
Shabanie Mine v Highlanders (Maglas), Dynamos v Caps United (Rufaro)
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter