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Tadious Manyepo Sports Reporter
DYNAMOS captain Frank Makarati says the Glamour Boys can leverage on huge home crowds as they bid to win the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League for the first time in nine years. The Harare giants grossed about US$12 000 in their first home match of the season against Sheasham at the National Sports Stadium last Sunday after 5 400 fans paid their way into the giant facility.
DeMbare are enjoying a purple patch in the initial stages of the championship after picking up maximum points in their opening two games of the new season.
They beat Hwange 1-0 in their opening match of the season at Barbourfields a fortnight ago before sending Sheasham to the cleaners in a 4-0 rout at the weekend.
With football-loving Zimbabweans now past the aftermath of the Covid-19 era challenges and trickling back to the stadiums, Dynamos naturally attract huge numbers.
And Makarati believes the numbers will help push the team to glory.
Dynamos have a new-look squad with all but only Emmanuel Jalai and Denver Mukamba used to the big home crowds.
The Glamour Boys were even jittery in their first home match against Sheasham and they were not as good as they were in the opener against Hwange.
“At Dynamos, fans play a huge role. As players, we can play well but without the fans, we may fail to win some matches.
“This is a fans-driven team and I am sure you saw how we were struggling when we played before empty stadiums over the past two years,” said Makarati.
“Dynamos is an institution, a big one. We cannot have only players in the field of play. It is the fans who complete the equation.
“And having them in full voice and full force is as inspirational as it is motivating. I am very happy as the captain of Dynamos to see the fans back supporting the team as much as they did on Sunday.
“Each time we lost the ball and won it back, I would look at them and the reaction was just fantastic. I think now that they are beginning to attend the matches in numbers, we will be enjoying more.
“I mean to have drum-beating and flag-waving fans rooting for you is something extraordinary, especially given the challenges we faced in the past two years where fans were shunning to attend matches obviously as they were still recovering from the effects of the Covid-19 scourge.
“As a team, we know what these fans want. They want good football from us. They want to be entertained. They want results. We will try by all means to have a fusion of all that in our games.
“Dynamos is a very big brand and it is our responsibility, as players, to maintain and enhance the name of the club through playing good football. If Dynamos is performing well, fans come in their numbers. But I would like to appeal to the fans as well.
“Our aim is to do well and we will put our heads on the block to achieve our aims. But in some instances when we are not doing as much as they expect, they should keep on supporting us to push us,” Makarati said.
Dynamos will be targeting the scalp of Simba Bhora who host them at the National Sports Stadium on Saturday.
They will be aiming to make it three out of three against newly-promoted teams after getting the better of Hwange and Sheasham already.
But Simba Bhora could be a tricky undertaking with some of their players having been signed from the Glamour Boys.
The Shamva team coach Tonderai Ndiraya will also be out to prove a point or two, having been sacked by Dynamos at the end of last year. The Simba Bhora club chairman, Isaiah Mupfurutsa, was also holding the same portfolio at the Glamour Boys for the past four years.
Players, who include Partson Jaure, Keith Murera, Blessing Moyo and goalkeeper Simba Chinani, have all seen action with Dynamos before and they will be eager to prove they are worth their salt.
“It will be a tricky tie against Simba Bhora given we will be facing not only our former teammates but a good team overall.
“Simba Bhora have started the league slowly but their potential is beyond any doubt,” said Makarati.
“We know they will come at us and we need to be at our best to win this tie.”
Simba Bhora and Cranborne Bullets remain the only teams without any points after two match-days.
Online Reporter