adminGrace Chingoma Senior Sports Reporter
DYNAMOS coach Paulo Silva will not bury his head in the sand following the humbling defeat at the hands of Castle Lager Premiership soccer champions Chicken Inn at Barbourfields last weekend as the Glamour Boys look to spring back to life in their first home league game of the season at Rufaro against Triangle on Satrurday.
The Portuguese coach said nobody in the DeMbare camp, from the players up to the technical team, was happy with the 3-0 mauling by the Gamecocks at Barbourfields last Saturday and the defeat should not spoil his season as there are 29 games which need to be played in the championship race.
The 2016 Castle Lager Premiership championship race kicked-off last Friday with a total of 22 goals being scored in the first round of matches. Last season 23 goals were scored in the opening weekend.
Just as other players were getting their names on the scoresheet, there was no such joy for Dynamos players but their gaffer Silva said they have since regrouped and are looking for improved fortunes.
“We talked about the match at training. I cannot be happy with the result and nobody is happy but more focus is needed in the next game.
“It is a long season and we only lost one game but nobody wants to lose and a 3-0 margin was just too much.
“But this weekend I will be playing at home in front of my fans and I believe we will win,” said Silva.
The expatriate mentor said he will chop and change his team as he tries to get the winning formula.
“I need to make changes after we conceded three goals and my player (Richard Kawondera) got a red card so that is automatically another change.
“Augustine (Mbara) was down with malaria and had not been training the whole week. Valentine (Ndaba) and Jimmy (Dzingai) have groin injuries. Elisha (Muroiwa) got a knock and we hope he recovers well as this might create problems in defence with these injuries,” said Silva.
The DeMbare coach said he knows what is at stake in the next game as they meet one of Dynamos most successful sons David “Yogi” Mandigora who is now in charge of Triangle.
Mandigora’s Triangle started the new season on a good note by dismissing Harare City 1-0 at Gibbo last week.
The Sunshine Boys, who lost back-to-back matches to Zambian side Zanaco in the CAF Confederation Cup last month, are still seeking for that winning formula as a second half goal by Courage Denias saw them losing the opening Premiership match for the third consecutive season.
Last year they were stunned 1-0 by Tsholotsho at home and the previous season they lost 3-0 to Chicken Inn.
Harare City will kick-off the weekend’s league programme with a home tie against Mutare City at Rufaro tomorrow.
Premiership newboys Ngezi Platinum were the only side among this year’s debutants to collect maximum points when they gave fellow newboys Mutare City Rovers a 3-0 hiding at Sakubva.
Former Dynamos striker Washington Pakamisa, Terrence Dzvukamanja and Innocent Sokoli, who converted from the spot, were on target for Ngezi Platinum.
Yesterday coach Clifton “Somalia” Kadurira was happy with the outcome of his maiden match in the Premiership.
He said the result will boost their morale going forward. The platinum miners have a bigger test against CAPS United in their second match this weekend.
“The first victory build morale of the players and they are responding well and coming up. It is better to start on such a (high) note as we are still trying to adjust to life in the Premiership,” he said.
The coach fielded half of the new players who arrived during the transfer season and said he was happy that the team is blending well.
And the former juniors’ coach of CAPS United is expected to host his tutor club at the newly-built Baobab stadium in Ngezi on Saturday.
“CAPS United is my former club and it is by coincidence that I started coaching there and now will meet them this weekend.
It is going to be interesting and my assistant coach Joseph Takaringofa is also a former CAPS United player,” said Kadurira.
Online Reporter