BY MUNYARADZI MADZOKERE
Dynamos coach Tonderai Ndiraya is by no means ashamed of the controversial “rugby style” football his team exuded on their way to a gutsy 1-0 victory over ZPC Kariba last weekend and has, in fact, demanded more of the same when the Harare giants face struggling Yadah FC at Rufaro today.
The struggling Harare giants have never lost to Yadah FC in the league, but Ndiraya is taking no prisoners in the quest to restore DeMbare to their former glory.
Ndiraya won his first match as Dynamos coach in only his second match in charge since replacing Lloyd Chigowe about a fortnight ago, but the losing coach Godfrey Tamirepi criticised the former champions for employing what he called rugby tactics to get the maximum points.
But ugly as it was, Ndiraya was instead impressed by his team’s performance and has called for the same kind of aggressiveness in the match against Yadah this afternoon.
“The commitment to play football, the commitment to play for the brand and for the team itself was not really there (when I came in as coach) and with better fitness levels we have seen more commitment. I think our last game against ZPC Kariba is a testimony to that and I am sure we all saw how the boys were committed and that’s the reason why the coach (Tamirepi) had to label the game a rugby match,” Ndiraya said.
“It’s because of the commitment and intensity our boys put in that match, so we expect the same commitment and intensity in the Yadah game and once we have done that, I think we can get some positive results,” he added.
It is apparent that Ndiraya, who complained about the quality of the players at his disposal, as well as the fitness levels and discipline when he took over, is ready to do whatever it takes to rescue the troubled Dynamos ship.
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In his first match in charge, Dynamos drew 1-1 with newcomers TelOne in Bulawayo before last week’s win at home to ZPC Kariba.
However, Ndiraya is aware that there are other issues to consider before unleashing his “rugby” players on Yadah this afternoon.
“Of course, there are also some technical and tactical issues that needed to be put in place and those we are putting in place. We had a better shape when we played ZPC Kariba and we expect to have an improved shape going into the Yadah game. We don’t want players just running everywhere. We want players to understand their roles and I’m really happy with the progress we have made so far.
“We want to add points on the board in each and every game we play. Yadah are no pushovers, in their last match they won 3-2 after having gone a goal behind, so that really shows that it’s a team with character and we are expecting a very tough match.
“I have been there at Yadah with the Under-23 team and I have seen what they do. I know how they prepare and they are a serious lot and we really have to be serious about the game and make sure that we get a result,” he said.
Ironically, Dynamos are the away team in their traditional home ground Rufaro and that should give them an edge over their opponents.
Dynamos go into the match without their foreign imports, the Cameroonian pair of Claude Junior Ngahan and Herve Mbega (injured), as well as Ghanaian Robert Sackey, while Ngandu Mangala of the Democratic Republic of Congo is suspended.
Yadah, coached by Genesis Mangombe, collected their first set of three points away to Bulawayo Chiefs last week and will be hoping to cause an upset against Dynamos.
But history does not favour them as they have failed to beat Dynamos in the league in four meetings since promotion in 2017.
