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Grace Chingoma Senior Sports Reporter
DYNAMOS coach Tonderayi Ndiraya has saluted Sunday “Mhofu” Chidzambwa, for his extraordinary contribution to the development of Zimbabwe football, ahead of their Castle Lager Premiership head-to-head showdown at Rufaro tomorrow.
The legendary Chidzambwa, DeMbare’s most successful coach of all-time and an icon at the club where he also starred as a player and captain, faces the team that shaped his football destiny when he brings his ZPC Kariba for a league tie tomorrow.
It’s the first time that Chidzambwa, who will always be connected with Dynamos, has faced his old team in more than a quarter of a century.
In the late ‘80s, Chidzambwa had a stint with Dynamos’ bitter rivals, CAPS United, before returning to the Glamour Boys to lead them to a number of league titles and helping them march into the final of the Champions League in 1998.
And Ndiraya, who was one of the players coached by Chidzambwa, says he is facing a legend he respects.
“Sunday is a well respected coach and one of the best coaches ever produced by the country,” said the DeMbare coach.
“We respect him for what he has done for Zimbabwe football.
“We are bracing up for a very tough challenge because of his stature and we expect his team to be well organised and very strong, so we are expecting a very tough match.
“He is a very good coach and there is no doubt about that. He is one person who knows his stuff, we all came through his hands, and most of the coaches in the Premier Soccer League passed through his hands and we know what he has done and what he can do.
“Recently he added players to his squad so we know he will re organise his team in a manner which will win him some games.
“We are expecting a very much organised ZPC Kariba, one which is different to the one which has lost some matches in the past.
“Our focus is on the new ZPC Kariba, which was recently assembled by Sunday, so it is going to be a very difficult match. But we will also take confidence from how we have gone about our business in the last two matches.
“We are looking at starting to win league matches as we have been drawing but we know that it won’t be that easy.”
Dynamos will be missing their inspirational skipper, Augustine Mbara, who is serving one-match suspension after accumulating three yellow cards.
But midfielders Ronald “Rooney” Chitiyo and Masimba Mambare, who have been battling injuries, are back for tomorrow’s game.
“They are among our best players and their return will further strengthen the team,” said Ndiraya.
“Ronald has been pivotal and played in some matches we have won and has done well to give us some results but has been out for quite some time and we expect him to come with a refreshed mind.
“Masimba missed one or two matches and he is still okay in terms of fitness and expect him to give us the best and we hope they will bring back the winning mentality.
“I am happy by the performance of the boys and so far we have won one Cup and another Cup match but our focus is on the league.
“We want to do well in the league and it is a bigger challenge for us as we haven’t done what we would like to do.
“And the ZPC Kariba match is important as we would want to start collecting points and we really need to work hard.
“We haven’t been doing well at home and so we are looking at improving on that and we want to urge our fans to cheer the guys in a positive way.”
Chidzambwa believes his strong Dynamos links would not be of any significance when the two teams meet, and said it was not only about him but players like Russell Madamombe, Thomas Sweswe, Tawanda Nyamandwe and Thomas Magorimbo who have played for the Glamour Boys before.
“Preparations went on very well. We are playing against the champions, they are good and we respect them and there is a history between us but it is a league game that has to be fulfilled by both teams and ZPC are my employers now and I have been away from Dynamos for five years and I no longer know how they do their things at the club,” said Chidzambwa.
“I have coached Tonde, he has grown up and he is his own man now with his own philosophies.
“The victory against CAPS United was a morale-booster and it gives the players confidence and they can believe in themselves after some poor results.
“The arrival of new players added experience to our side. There is a big improvement in the team now compared to when we didn’t have these players.
“As a coach, you want to win every game but you also know in that football that is not practical but we would want to our next game and other matches as well.”
ZPC Kariba have added a number of new faces, notably Thomas Sweswe, Protasho Kabwe, Limited Chikafa and Leonard Fiyado, who scored in his first match for his new paymasters against his old team CAPS United.
Mhofu will be praying that Dennis Dauda and Raphael Manuvire, who was inspirational against Makepekepe, will have recovered from the knocks they picked against the Green Machine to face the champions tomorrow.
Fixtures
Today: Harare City v Dongo Sawmill (Rufaro), Chicken Inn v Chapungu (Luveve), FC Platinum v Hwange (Mandava), Tsholotsho v Triangle (White City), Flame Lily v CAPS United (Lafarge).
Tomorrow: Whawha v Buffaloes (Ascot), Dynamos v ZPC Kariba (Rufaro), How Mine v Highlanders (Barbourfields).
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