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Langton Nyakwenda
EXCLUDING that abandoned match against Chegutu Pirates just over a fortnight ago, Dynamos have now played 25 league matches since Genesis “Kaka” Mangombe took over the reins at the 20-time league champions.
It is a reign that has divided opinion among the Dynamos faithful, as the gaffer has often been thrown under the microscope since August 9, 2023 when he succeeded Herbert “Jompano” Maruwa.
In the 25 league matches he has presided over, Mangombe has 10 wins, nine draws and six losses.
He has harvested 39 points out of a possible 75, which translates to a 52 percent success rate.
With 10 wins in 25 games, Kaka’s win stands at 40 percent.
This season, Dynamos have managed two wins in nine matches and that diminishes Mangombe’s win rate to just 22 percent.
As has become their tradition, DeMbare have had another slow start to the season.
They have picked up 11 points from two wins and five draws in their opening nine games, excluding the match against Chegutu Pirates that was abandoned in the dying stages on April 25, with DeMbare leading 1-0.
There have been times when Mangombe has appeared more like a dead man walking, especially at the end of March.
After losing 2-1 against Highlanders at Barbourfields Stadium in Match Day One, DeMbare drew their next games against Hwange and Yadah.
A 1-0 victory against newly promoted Bikita Minerals on April Fools’ Day might have cooled down some negative sentiments about Mangombe, who staggered into the new month hard-pressed to mollify the ever-demanding Dynamos supporters.
A goalless draw against Bulawayo Chiefs at Rufaro Stadium followed, before DeMbare succumbed to a hard-to-swallow 0-1 defeat against Simba Bhora, who are coached by ex-Dynamos employee Tonderai Ndiraya.
Mangombe was back in the pressure cooker, but got some consolation from a slender 1-0 win against Premiership returnees TelOne at Rufaro Stadium on April 21.
DeMbare struggled to find the back of the net yet again when they faced new boys Chegutu Pirates at Baobab Stadium, four days later.
When they finally found what appeared to be the winner in added time, Chegutu Pirates fans protested over the goal and subsequently invaded the pitch, causing the abandonment of that match.
DeMbare are most likely to get a 3-0 result after the PSL charged Chegutu Pirates on Thursday.
Some key figures at Dynamos were already thinking otherwise with regard to Mangombe’s future.
An unnamed foreign coach was linked with the Harare giants, while rumours about a possible re-engagement of Maruwa, who is doing well at Division One side Harare City, swelled.
When Dynamos hosted Ngezi Platinum Stars at Rufaro Stadium on April 28, some deemed the clash a do-or-die one for Mangombe.
And when DeMbare fought back to force a 2-2 draw, some had already started writing Mangombe’s epitaph.
Crucially, Mangombe got strong backing from Dynamos board chairperson and founder member Bernard Marriot-Lusengo, a day after the draw against Ngezi Platinum Stars.
“So far, we have no complaints or issues about the coach,” he told Zimpapers Sport on April 29. “Look, we have been watching the team’s games and we have seen a lot of positives.”
Also critical has been the fact that Dynamos are playing some eye-catching football under Mangombe. This has been the case since he took over in August last year.
Mangombe even won himself some more plaudits when he clinched the Chibuku Super Cup in December, which was DeMbare’s first big silverware since 2014.
And Marriot-Lusengo acknowledged that when he defended Mangombe.
“Genesis (Mangombe) has introduced an attractive brand of football in the team and it is looking good despite somewhat unfortunate results which we have had to endure,” he said.
“We have said, no, let’s give the coach his time and freedom to be in the workshop and see how it all goes. We are fully behind him.”
After this strong backing, Mangombe went on to post a goalless draw against Chicken Inn at Barbourfields Stadium, and today, Dynamos play Herentals at Rufaro Stadium, in another tricky fixture for the Harare giants.
“To them, it’s a derby because they want to win against Dynamos and they will give it their all,” Mangombe told the media. “When playing against Dynamos, every player is motivated because they want to impress, some want to play for Dynamos.
“But we are well-prepared for that. We have to be prepared mentally.”
DeMbare have to polish up their strike force, which has been their greatest undoing for many months if they hope for a positive result against Herentals.
Online Reporter