Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THERE have been TEN goals in the last two games between Dynamos and Scottland — FIVE in a league match and FIVE in a Cup match.
The spoils were shared.
DeMbare won the league match, a classic five-goal thriller that was decided by a Denver Mukamba special.
Scottland won the Cup game, a mismatch, which ended in a 5-0 thrashing of a Glamour Boys side which had a different complexion to the team they will meet at Rufaro today.
So, what awaits us, the neutrals, in this midweek showdown?
Dynamos will move into second place on the table if they manage to win in this Castle Lager Premier Soccer League showdown.
But this is one fixture the Glamour Boys know they should do more to pull off a victory given Scottland themselves are also looking to maintain a narrow gap between themselves and leaders CAPS United.
The duel is expected to be explosive.
There has been a lot of talk around this fixture with either side trying to be meticulous in preparing for it.
Scottland will step into it with their tails up – just four days after lifting the Independence Trophy after beating Highlanders 1-0 in the final at Maphisa Stadium.
Dynamos coach, Genesis Mangombe, said:
“We have done a lot of preparations for this game. I think we had ample time to prepare for this game, since it is also very crucial for us.
“The good thing is we are playing, you know, at Rufaro, which is our home ground, although we are playing away, technically.
“This is a special assignment for us given that 5-0 mauling we suffered the last time out.
“We will not disappoint this time around. As for the team, I’m happy with the squad.
“The boys are eager and are showing a lot of hunger building up to this fixture.
“The last time out, it was a Cup game and our application didn’t come out quite well. But we now have a system that we are following.
“Everything is coming up just right for us. We are ready to face them.”
He added: “I am a professional and revenge isn’t part of the mission. I am just working hard to make Dynamos a better team.
“The match against Scottland isn’t going to be easy given the big names they have in their camp.
“But Dynamos are a big team and we want to compete.
“We have to do ourselves a favour. That’s as simple as that.”
Mangombe was by yesterday still praying to have right back Christopher Netty pass a late fitness test.
Forward Perfect Chikwende, who won Dynamos a penalty that earned them a 1-1 draw against FC Platinum could as well be out of this game through illness. Both players reported for duty yesterday with the medical staff busy working on them.
The rest of the players are fit though and Tendaishe Magwaza can step into the right-back position with either Witness Shave or Enasio Perezo expected to fill in Chikwende’s void in the event that the former Bulawayo Chiefs man fails to recover in time for the game.
It’s not only Mangombe who wants to win this game with captain Shadreck Nyahwa saying:
“As players, we are itching to win this game. We have told each other that we need to win at all costs.”
Scottland are unbeaten in the championship race this season and have the arsenal which can inflict a defeat on the Glamour Boys. Khama Billiat has always shown throughout his career that he is a man for the big occasion. Whether this occasion will also provide a platform for him to shine brightly, having scored against DeMbare in the Cup match, remains to be seen.
