adminGrace Chingoma Senior Sports Reporter
DYNAMOS’ “prodigal son” Rodrick Mutuma yesterday distanced himself from social media images which mocked coach David Mandigora when CAPS United had beaten DeMbare in the Sino Challenge Cup match during their pre-season preparations at the beginning of the year
Mutuma, who rejoined Dynamos from arch-rivals CAPS United at the weekend and featured for the Harare giants in yesterday’s goalless draw against Hwange at Rufaro, said he was not the one who personally mocked the coach.
Mutuma joined the Green Machine early this year when Dynamos were said to have dragged their feet in renewing their contract with the former Bloemfontein Celtic star.
So there was bound to be some tension and when Mutuma scored the first penalty at Rufaro after the teams had drawn during regulation time of the Sino Challenge Cup, he celebrated in the direction of his then former team.
And there some social media images circulated showing the striker “mocking” Mandigora through his (Mutuma’s) WhatsApp profile pictures.
But yesterday, Mutuma said he never mocked the coach and was happy to be back at the Glamour Boys where his heart has always been.
“I was missing the blue family and that’s why I came back.
“It was not me who mocked the coach. It is the people who made that image and circulated it on the social media.
“How can I do that to the coach yet we could meet again?
“I am a professional and I cannot do such things,” he said.
Mutuma said while he would have wished for a victory on his home coming match for Dynamos against Hwange at Rufaro yesterday, he believes greater things are in store for the team.
“We want medals, we want to achieve something and personally I need to score as many goals as I can although I don’t have a specific target,” he said.
And it appears the striker still has his support among the vast majority of the DeMbare fans as he received a wild round of applause when the players entered the pitch for the warm-up session yesterday.
Mutuma was in the thick of things yesterday and as early as the the seventh minute he neatly sent a cross to set up newboy Richard Kawondera and Dominic Chungwa with the two failing to bury the chance.
Three minutes later, Mutuma was back haunting Hwange’s defence but his header went over the bar.
In Mutuma, the DeMbare faithful appear to believe that their woes upfront will soon come to an end.
While Mutuma quickly eased in after a six-month absence, it was not to be for the former Triangle forward Kawondera who did not have the best of afternoons in his maiden appearance for the Glamour Boys.
Observers felt that the player should have at least come from the bench for a game or two and slowly acclimatise with the situation at the Harare giants as he made a number of poor moves and in the 79th minute, in a one-on-one situation with Hwange goalie Takabva Mawaya, he pushed his effort wide. It was easier to score than to miss.
Mutuma and Kawondera together with midfielder Zivanai Mhanda were registered with the Premier Soccer League on Saturday and were all rewarded with a place in the final team by DeMbare coach Mandigora.
However, another returning striker, Takesure Chinyama, is still awaiting for his international clearance. Dynamos are confident that the mid-season’s new arrivals would help them reclaim the top position and fight to win for the league title for the fifth year in a row.
Online Reporter