adminAugustine Hwata Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE football kings Dynamos might have failed to get maximum points in their last two league matches but coach Callisto Pasuwa says there is no need to press the panic baton yet as they bid to defend their Castle Lager Premiership title. On Sunday, DeMbare were held to a goalless draw by Monomotapa at Rufaro after having lost 4-2 to Hwange at the Colliery last week.
The Dynamos gaffer believe it’s just a temporary setback which they will overcome soon.
Dynamos remain at the top of the standings even after the two woeful performances as their nearest rivals Highlanders, Harare City and CAPS United have failed to cover ground.
Pasuwa made eight changes from the side that fell at the Colliery but still failed to find the winning spark.
“It’s part of the game and it happens in life. As a coach when I plan, I hope to win but at times we get such results because of our performance,” said Pasuwa.
“We tried our best but we were not very offensive enough when going forward, hence we could not score. It’s still game on in the championship race.
“We still have got seven games to go and that means it’s 21 points to play for.
“So we will fight until the last game of the season.”
Over the last two seasons, Dynamos have waited right until the final match of the season to be crowned champions.
But unlike in previous seasons where Dynamos had to stalk their rivals, it’s the chasing pack which is now piling on the pressure.
“We go back to the drawing board and we need to work on scoring goals so that we get the three points in our next game,” said Pasuwa.
With the league programme giving way to the Mbada Diamonds Cup matches this weekend, Dynamos will resume their Premiership action with a trip to Mandava for a tie against FC Platinum.
It will be interesting to see how Lloyd Mutasa and Masimba Dinyero will fare against Pasuwa.
Dynamos still have tricky away ties against Chicken Inn and Highlanders while the unpredictable Shabanie Mine will come to the capital.
On Sunday, Pasuwa rested Thomas Magorimbo and gave rookie Blessing Moyo his Premiership debut.
“Being his first game, I think he played very well. He is one of the youngsters we have on our slots and I think he did his job very well,” said Pasuwa.
Meanwhile, Dynamos could be in trouble with the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League for breaching two standing orders during the match at Rufaro on Sunday.
The league champions are facing a possible US$ 8 000 fine after fans on the Vietnam stand threw water bottles onto the field in the second half in protest to some of the decisions by assistant referee Luckson Mhara and referee Batsirayi Muchenje.
Dynamos could also have invited a further US$ 3 000 after their players scaled the perimeter fence from the northern side on their way to the dressing room before kick-off.
PSL chief executive Kenny Ndebele said he had not yet seen the reports from the match commissioner or referee Muchenje but said the league will enforce penalties if the rules were breached.
“We have not received the reports from the referee, police or the match commissioner but if the incidents are cited, then it will be breaching the statutory orders and there are fines gazetted for the offences,” said Ndebele.
Online Reporter