The past three seasons have seen new players arrive at Dynamos amid high hopes that they would transform the Glamour Boys back into a formidable continental force.
BY MUKUDZEI CHINGWERE
But alas, the Glamour Boys have instead retreated into the backyard of African club football.
For all their exciting brand of football that saw them emphatically dispatch Algerian side MC Algiers at home in 2011, the then new signings Denver Mukamba, Roderick Mutuma, Devon Chafa and Thomas Magorimbo crop could not take Dynamos into the group stages the club had reached the previous season.
In 2012, DeMbare cast their net into foreign land to capture Arthur Kaseloki and Derrick Kabwe but the Zambians made no difference together with the likes of Ocean Mushure and Partson Jaure in a season they were embarrassed by Tunisian giants Esperance.
Dynamos even went further up the continent to East Africa last season and brought in Boban Ziruntusa but nothing changed after also having acquired Russel Madamombe, the experienced Steven Alimenda as well as Francisco Zekumbawire who arrived with high expectations on him.
Now, they have invaded the transfer market again seeking solutions to improve their continental fortunes. This season’s acquisitions at Dynamos have so far shown that the record Zimbabwean champions could have found answers to their CAF Champions League faults.
Dynamos hurdled the Champions League preliminary round in not-so-convincing fashion, but the midfield quartet of Walter Mukanga, Ronald Chitiyo, Tafadzwa Rusike and Masimba Mambare produced glimpses that showed they have what it takes to bring back continental glamour to DeMbare in this more taxing competition.
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They were instrumental in the qualification to the next round with Mambare scoring and assisting in the 3-0 home win over Mochudi Centre Chiefs in his first game at the National Sports Stadium. Chitiyo was on target off a Mambare assist in the return leg on an afternoon Mukanga played a blinder in a game he was named man of the match.
In Gaborone, the new acquisitions looked the more comfortable and hungry for success in a foreign territory as they pulled strings in the midfield of a team that is however battling a poor away record on the continent.
Chitiyo and Mukanga controlled the midfield with consummate ease for their entire 90 minutes and denied the Mochudi Centre Chiefs linkmen the chance to settle into the game. Mambare seemed to have carried his form at Highlanders to the Harare giants and his constant surge into the box from the right wing proved to be difficult for the Tswana to handle.
Rusike’s introduction in the second half replacing captain Tawanda Muparati helped Dynamos strengthen their control of the match and manage to force a draw. Now, Congolese giants AS Vita are lurking in the first round which would undoubtedly provide the new signings with “the moment of truth.”
It is still game on as the hard-to-please and ever-demanding DeMbare fans are now waiting to see how much contribution the newboys will make in this serious bid to reclaim lost continental glory.
