Dynamos coach Tonderai Ndiraya might need more than just tactical acumen to keep his team in the title race.
By Brian Nkiwane
He will definitely require a united front ahead of a swim or sink league encounter against pacesetters Chicken Inn at Barbourfields (BF) this afternoon.
Ndiraya has spent the past two days trying to bring pieces of a jigsaw puzzle together on the backdrop of a training ground bust up between his two chief strikers, Rodrick Mutuma and Takesure Chinyama. He still has a big task on his hands to convince the two protagonists that at this crucial moment, what they need most in camp is the spirit of oneness.
He needs to make sure that the striking partnership between the two rises to the occasion and starts firing once again.
Having done that, the youthful coach has to shift focus to his opponents, Chicken Inn, who seem to be running away with the league title.
It’s a must-win match for DeMbare because losing to Chicken Inn at BF today will widen the gap and vaporise the dream of landing the fifth successive title.
The GameCocks lead the pack by 49 points with seven games still to be played.
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Five points separate the Joey Antipas-coached Chicken Inn and second-placed FC Platinum (44 points) with Dynamos on the third spot with 42 points, seven behind the log leaders.
Dynamos troop to BF brimming with confidence after beating Platinum in the quarter-final of the Chibuku Super Cup in a penalty shoot-out in Harare last Sunday while Chicken Inn fell to Chapungu, also in a penalty lottery.
Chicken Inn skipper Danny “Deco” Phiri is confident his side will prevail over Dynamos whom they clobbered 3-0 at Rufaro Stadium in May courtesy of an Edmore Chirambadare brace and another goal from Michelle Katsvairo.
“We must win this one. Our next three games are must-wins. We are ready for Dynamos. Of all the games that we have played this year, this is going to be one of our toughest games. If we get past Dynamos on Sunday, beat How Mine in the Bulawayo derby and then FC Platinum, the title is beckoning. These three are the most crucial games for us,” Phiri said.
Chicken Inn will be without Passmore Bernard, who is on suspension but they welcome back central defender Lawrence Mhlanga who was away on national duty with the Young Warriors in Congo-Brazzaville.
After yesterday’s morning training session, Dynamos captain Stephen Alimenda said: “Every game is a new game. We will just work hard and see what will come out at the end of the day.”
In another exciting match this afternoon, Bulawayo giants Highlanders will face CAPS United at the National Sports Stadium.
Bosso come into the match bolstered by the return of top goal scorer Knox Mutizwa who was away with the Young Warriors as well as former chief striker Ralph Matema.
Notably, when Matema made his debut for Bosso some seasons back against CAPS United, he scored in that match. Coach Amini Soma-Phiri said he was now concentrating on today’s league match against CAPS United and would take other matches as they came.
“We are concentrating on the CAPS game. I am not in a position to tell you about games that we will be playing in a fortnight,” Soma-Phiri said.
He said the big boost for the injury-plagued Highlanders was the return of Mutizwa, defender Teenage Hadebe and linkman Nqobizitha Masuku.
“The arrival of Knox, Nqo and Hadebe will be a very big boost for us. We are expecting Knox to make a big difference,” he said.
Douglas Sibanda and King Nadolo are doubtful starters due to injury, while Erick Mudzingwa and Honest Moyo have been ruled out.
