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Fungai Muderere
IN wake of watching Dynamos having some disordered preparations for their much anticipated Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) league match against their nemesis at Rufaro Stadium on Sunday, Highlanders head coach Kelvin Kaindu has refused to read much on the developments.
DeMbare players downed tools last Thursday, and the industrial action persisted until Wednesday morning when the club’s executive promised to deposit the money before the end of the week. A host of players later told Zimpapers Sports Hub that they had later received their dues.
“It makes it very difficult when you are playing a team that has their in-house problems. This may also affect us in one way or the other. We don’t know what is happening behind closed doors. If you look at a game of this magnitude it does not matter if they have trained or not, it’s a game everyone wants to come and watch. Whether they are training or not we are not dwelling on that. We just want to focus on the game and get a positive result,” said Kaindu.
He added: “Everyone is ready. We don’t want to dwell on the first leg. It’s gone. We are focusing on the away game and see if we can remain focused. We lost our last game in Harare (against Yadah) but we saw our fans coming out in numbers. We appreciate the support and feel we can do better than we did in our last game in Harare.”
The players had earlier agreed to also train “out of respect for the big game against Highlanders’’ as they finally decided to give the management some benefit of the doubt on their promise to settle the outstanding bonuses.
Those players who have featured in all of Dynamos’ 17 matches in the first half of the season were reportedly owed about US$1 050 in outstanding bonuses.
DeMbare pays US$100 for a win, an amount that rises to US$200 when they play against the top sides like Highlanders, CAPS United, FC Platinum, and Ngezi Platinum Stars. The Harare giants pay US$50 for a draw, which rises to US$100 against those top sides.
They have wins against Bikita Minerals, TelOne, Chegutu Pirates, Arenel Movers and GreenFuel, which amounts to US$500 per player. Dynamos have nine draws, including stalemates against giants CAPS United and Ngezi Platinum Stars, which adds up to US$550 per player.
The stand-off between players and the executive cost Dynamos four days of training ahead of the big game against Bosso at Rufaro on Sunday. Highlanders go into the match having won the Bulawayo fixture on the opening day of the season.
The impasse had also blighted the build-up to the biggest fixture on the Zimbabwe club football calendar, which is returning to DeMbare’s traditional home — Rufaro — for the first time since November 2019.
Despite the chaos that has rocked his side, Dynamos coach Genesis Mangombe is putting in a brave face ahead of the showdown. Mangombe insists his charges are fit to face their traditional rivals, despite missing several days of training.
“These are footballers and in the life of a footballer you need to be training all the time. And you need to stay fit,” said Mangombe.
He added: “The players have been training throughout, although it has been individual and when you train individually there is no teamwork. But as far as fitness is concerned there are no issues.”
The youthful gaffer also hailed his players for eventually agreeing to train as a team before their bonuses were deposited into their bank accounts.
“We have lost four days of training so we are going to push today (Thursday) and Friday as well. Thumbs up to the boys for understanding the situation. They are going to do business come Sunday and we are ready to go,” Mangombe said.
DeMbare are currently sixth on the log, with 24 points and 11 behind leaders FC Platinum. The Harare giants have been largely inconsistent in the first-half of the season which saw them draw nine teams.
Mangombe’s job has also been on the tenterhooks following Dynamos’ inconsistent run. Bosso are on five with 26 points, nine adrift from Pure Platinum Play. After starting the season well, they have also blown hot and cold, and will need to be at their best to stand the Dynamos onslaught in Harare.
Online Reporter