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Langton Nyakwenda
WHILE Manica Diamonds were travelling from Mutare to Harare yesterday morning, Dynamos were making some final touch-ups in Harare after a turbulent week that saw their players boycott training for two-and-a-half days.
The two teams with contrasting fortunes, one calm and the other volatile, clash in the Chibuku Super Cup semifinal at Rufaro Stadium this afternoon.
DeMbare players staged a boycott from Wednesday, as they pushed for payment of their outstanding bonuses and signing-on fees. The players wanted to be apprised on how the US$50 000 Dynamos received from CAF for their participation in the Confederation Cup would be distributed.
The turbulence saw key player Tanaka Shandirwa being suspended for allegedly spearheading the strike.
The situation only returned to normal on Friday afternoon after club treasurer, Justice Mubayi, addressed the players and promised to settle the outstanding dues.
Players then demanded that the club rescinds Shandirwa’s letter of suspension, and they appeared to have won that battle until club secretary Webster Marechera disowned a document circulated vastly on social media platforms purporting the midfielder had been set free.
DeMbare players were still to be paid by yesterday afternoon, but they trained ahead of today’s match against Manica Diamonds.
“This is Dynamos and we are very unpredictable,” Dynamos coach Lloyd “MaBlanyo” Chigowe said.
“The boys have shown during today’s (yesterday) training session that they really want to do their best in this encounter.
“They know the value of the badge and they want to fight till the last drop of blood. They are eager to go all the way and defend the title.”
A player who spoke to this publication on condition of anonymity said they agreed to train for the sake of the club’s name.
“We ended up agreeing amongst ourselves to just play and save the situation, but we have received nothing from the club,” said the player yesterday.
There were no issues at Manica Diamonds, who arrived in the capital yesterday.
Their coach, Jairos Tapera, was upbeat about his team’s chances of reaching their first-ever cup final.
The Gem Boys want to replicate what Tanganda United did back in 1993 when the Manicaland-based side lifted the Castle Cup after stunning CAPS United in a final held at the National Sports Stadium.
Tanganda are now defunct, but they remain the only team from Manicaland province to lift a major cup.
“Last season we finished second on the log, which was a rare feat and one of the greatest achievements for a team from Manicaland.
“We wanted to follow that up by winning the championship this season, but we have failed to achieve that. So, we are now banking on doing well in the Chibuku Super Cup.”
Manica Diamonds are featuring in the semifinal of the Chibuku Super Cup for the first time since they made their Premiership debut in 2019.
“If we do well in the Chibuku Super Cup, then people from Mutare, and Manicaland as a whole, will be happy and proud of their team. This will be the best thing for the community,” said Tapera.
“And we are saying the community should join us in this journey, and we hope they will enjoy the ride with the rest of the team.”
The veteran gaffer downplayed the crisis at Dynamos as he thinks the Harare giants are dangerous when they are in such circumstances.
DeMbare are out to defend their title, after winning last years’ edition at the expense of Ngezi Platinum Stars.
That was their first Chibuku Super Cup title.
“We have not done well in the league and the focus now is on the tournament,” said Chigowe.
Dynamos were 90 minutes away from reaching the money-spinning group stage of the 2024/2025 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.
A second-round penalty shoot-out defeat to Botswana side Orapa United in September denied Dynamos a whopping US$400 000 windfall.
“The boys know what could have been, if we had progressed, and that is what is motivating them to defend the Chibuku Super Cup and play in Africa again next year,” added Chigowe.
This is the fifth time Dynamos are playing in the Chibuku Super Cup semifinal.
They were losing finalists against Harare City in 2015 before they were knocked out in the last four by eventual champions Triangle United in 2018.
They lost 0-1 against FC Platinum in the semifinal in 2021.
Last year, they beat Ngezi Platinum Stars 2-0 at Baobab Stadium to lift the coveted cup.
Dynamos go into today’s encounter without striker Sadney Urikhob and Shadreck Nyahwa who are both nursing injuries.
Chances are high Chigowe might also bench Shandirwa after what happened last week.
Manica Diamonds have no major injury worries and will look up to speedy striker Michael Tapera and veteran left-back Farai Banda. Jeffrey Takunda, Fortune Binzi and Kudzanai Dhemere are also key figures in Jairos Tapera’s side.
Online Reporter