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Ishemunyoro Chingwere
EMBATTLED Dynamos coach Paulo Jorge Silva takes his job-saving mission to the Colliery for a date with Hwange on a turf where even the legendary Kallisto Pasuwa and David “Yogi” Mandigora flattered to deceive.
DeMbare have struggled at the Colliery over the years and even during their four years of dominance under Pasuwa, they only managed one win at the Colliery – a 2-0 on October 7, 2012.
That was the last time Dynamos picked three points in Hwange.
Even highly-regarded Mandigora last year failed to guide the Glamour Boys past the coal miners as they were restricted to a 1-all share of the spoils.
With his men pegged against the wall, having won just one of their four league opening fixtures, and with the Kenny Mubaiwa-led executive set to review his performance after today’s tie, Silva knows that failure to win at the Colliery could see him unemployed.
The star of Silva’s lucklustre rein, midfielder Valentine Ndaba, is out after he was involved in a car crash a day after last weekend’s loss to Caps United, which needless to say makes the Portuguese gaffer’s job that much harder.
DeMbare are said to have sounded out possible replacements for Silva, with names such as Tonderai Ndiraya, Rahman Gumbo and former Caps United boss Mark Harrison being thrown around.
Ndiraya, who is working at Prince Edward High School, has dismissed reports linking him with a quick return to Dynamos as mere speculation, although he did not rule out the possibility should the team make an official approach.
Hwange interim coach Mebelo Njekwa on his is part is hoping that it will be usual service from Chipangano whenever his side meets DeMbare.
“It is not like we are playing poorly, we are doing well but results are not going our way. It is important that we must start picking points and be consistent,” said Njekwa.
“Playing Dynamos motivates players and being their bogey team, we are looking forward to a positive result so that we move up the ladder,” the stand-in coach told our Bulawayo bureau.
Njekwa, a longtime backroom staff member at the Colliery, was thrust into the hot seat at the beginning of the season after Nation Dube was suspended for his alleged role in fixing national team matches.
Hwange has been struggling under Njekwa and last week Chipangano fell to an embarrassing 1-4 defeat at the hands of Taurai Mangwiro’s Harare City.
The 2-0 win over Premiership debutants Ngezi Platinum at the Colliery is their only victory this campaign.
They have lost 0-3 to Highlanders and 0-2 to Chapungu, and Njekwa knows he must start picking points to convince his executive that the team is in safe hands.
Fixtures (All matches start at 3pm)
Mutare City vs How Mine (Sakubva), Caps United vs Border Strikers (NSS), Hwange vs Dynamos (Colliery), Triangle vs ZPC Kariba (Gibbo), Highlanders vs Chapungu (Barbourfields)
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