Andrew
Langton Nyakwenda
BULAWAYO CHIEFS’ expatriate coach, Nilton Terroso, feels Dynamos deserves respect, but the Portuguese gaffer is expecting a tight contest between two sides desperate to return to winning ways.
Revived Chiefs, who are enjoying their best start to the championship marathon since making their Premier Soccer League debut in 2018, host DeMbare at Barbourfields in Bulawayo on Saturday.
Both sides are winless in their last two matches, but Chiefs have a point better than Dynamos going into Saturday’s clash.
“The Ninjas”, who have eight points from five matches, are smarting from a goalless draw against Tenax, which followed a 1-2 loss to Chicken Inn while DeMbare drew 0-0 at FC Platinum before losing 0-1 against Chicken Inn at home last Sunday.
Terroso is expecting a tough match against Dynamos, although he is confident his charges are more determined to get the three points.
“Playing against teams like Dynamos is a different thing altogether. Some of the players haven’t played against them, some have but we have not done it together. It’s a learning curve,” said Terroso on Thursday afternoon.
This will arguably be one of Terroso’s biggest tests since taking over at the ambitious club in October 2021.
The expatriate has done commendably well to revive Chiefs who are having a better start to the season, compared to how they fared during the comparative period in 2018 and 2019.
“We are improving in our performances; we continue to focus on our development.
“Preparations have been good, we are focused and working hard to get the results that we want.
“Dynamos are a very organised side, I see them determined. But we have to get the three points.
“They have really invested a lot this year. It’s going to be a difficult game between two teams that want three points,” Terroso said.
Beating Dynamos would be a perfect way for Chiefs to recover from last weekend’s morale sapping home draw against Tenax.
Yet they had sent some shock waves across the country when they stunned champions FC Platinum 2-0 in round three of the 2021/2022 Premiership season.
Their other win came against a tough Triangle side in their opening fixture of the season.
Alongside Manica Diamonds, who currently top the log, Chiefs have been one of the most exciting stories of the season so far.
FIXTURES:
Saturday:
Herentals v Bulawayo City (NSS); Yadah FC v Manica Diamonds (Baobab); FC Platinum v Harare City (Mandava); Bulawayo Chiefs v Dynamos (BF)
Sunday:
CAPS United v Whawha (NSS); Cranborne Bullets v Black Rhinos (Baobab); Tenax v Highlanders (Sakubva); Triangle v Ngezi Platinum Stars (Gibbo); Chicken Inn v ZPC Kariba (Luveve)
Online Reporter