The last time Dynamos began their Premier Soccer League campaign outside Harare was in 2009 and they finished as runners-up to eventual champions Gunners.
BY MICHAEL MADYIRA
This afternoon’s league meeting with How Mine at Barbourfields will make the superstitious want to believe DeMbare’s local dominance ended last season.
On March 22 2009 Dynamos thumped the now-defunct Underhill 3-0 at Masvingo’s Mucheke Stadium in a season opener with Cuthbert Malajila, Phillimon Marufu and Carrington Gomba on target but ended the league as bridesmaids to Gunners.
They can win this afternoon but the superstitious will still believe it could not be their season.
Taking away the superstitious beliefs, Kalisto Pasuwa’s charges have given the strongest hint of continuing with their local dominance.
Having already bagged the Bob90 Super Cup against Highlanders, the Glamour Boys have not been impressive in preseason but have shown they are still local football bullies after little success in CAF inter-club competitions in the past four years.
They were not impressive last season but a smash and grab campaign saw them winning a third straight league title.
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Team manager Richard Chihoro is wary of the threat posed by How Mine who beat them in one of the league matches last season before knocking them out of the prestigious Mbada Diamonds Cup.
While Dynamos have cemented their domestic supremacy in recent seasons, they now face a team that has humiliated them since last season.
“They [How Mine] are a very strong team and remember they beat us twice last season,” said Chihoro.
“They also beat Highlanders and their fair campaign in the CAF Confederations Cup says a lot about their calibre. But we have strongly prepared ourselves as men and losing is not an option for us. We will give it our best shot.”
Dynamos will be without the injured duo of Masimba Mambare and Clive Kawinga this afternoon while Jaure is also out serving a seven-match PSL ban.
How Mine on the other hand will do without Timothy January and Warren Dube who have been injured for the past three weeks.
Coach Philani Ncube is refusing to read much into their domination of Dynamos.
“Yes, we beat Dynamos last season but that is history now,” said Ncube. “This is a new day and a new game. Winning chances are 50-50 for both teams. I believe these are the kind of games that separate boys from men.”
