The men that DeMbare forgot

Ishemunyoro Chingwere
The men that Dynamos rejected are 90 minutes away from firing Chapungu into the Chibuku Super Cup final — and twisting a sharp dagger into the heart of the defending league champions while they are at it. Strikers Allan Tavarwisa, Tineyi Chitora and Patrick Khumbula were all deemed excess to requirements at DeMbare, but have found their groove at the airmen where they are key players.Last season Chapungu survived the chop on the last day of the campaign and bowed out of the country’s premier knockout tourney at the first hurdle.

However, they have faced no such troubles this campaign as they are just one match away from the final of the Chibuku Super Cup. They are quite comfy in the league, too, sitting seventh and 13 points above the last relegation slot with just six rounds of fixtures remaining. Their good run is oiled by goals from the former Dynamos trio of Tavarwisa, Chitora and Khumbula.Chitora and Tavarwisa are amongst the league’s top goal-scorers, bagging eight and seven respectively, a return that is not bettered or matched by any Dynamos player. Ronald Chitiyo, DeMbare’s leading scorer in the league, has found the back of the net just six times.

For a player who was largely restricted to warming the bench at Dynamos and at times even failing to make the match day squad, Khumbula has done well at Chapungu and coach John Nyikadzino is pleased his gamble is paying off.

“Despite circumstances surrounding their departure (from Dynamos) we were wide-eyed enough to see the talent in them and are happy Chitora and Tavarwisa are challenging for the Golden Boot. Chitora (with two cup goals) is also on course for the Chibuku Golden Boot. “That they did not make it big at Dynamos does not make them bad; the only challenge at a big team like Dynamos is that they don’t have patience like us. Here we tolerate mistakes because it’s part of the game.”

Tavarwisa, who joined Dynamos at the beginning of the 2013 season, said he was weighed down by the level of expectation that greeted his arrival at the Glamour Boys.

“When I arrived at Dynamos from Hwange, the team was in desperate need of a free-scoring striker so the pressure was immediately on as soon as I put pen to paper. I am happy it’s paying off and hope to continue with the good run,” he said. Tavarwisa reckons their job against Dynamos will be made easier by the fact that the match is effectively a walkover in the eyes of most people. Khumbula, who joined the Airmen during the mid-season transfer window, has scored two goals.

“Game time was not easy to come by at Dynamos and this affected my game because you then get a feeling the team has no confidence in you,” said Khumbula.

“Football is a high pressure sport and everywhere one goes there will always be pressure to deliver but the pressure at Dynamos is a bit too much.

“Having said that I treasure the time I was with Dynamos and am looking forward to meeting them,” he said.