BY MUNYARADZI MADZOKERE
RUFARO Stadium has not been a favourite hunting ground for Harare giants Dynamos this season
The struggling side has eked out just two wins since the season started and one of those two matches was ironically an away match against Mushowani.
And since Tonderai Ndiraya took over the reins at the club ahead of the week five fixture, Dynamos have one win and two losses as well as one goal in those three matches.
But the Dynamos coach has had it and is ready to stop the rot when his side hosts airmen Chapungu in theiceremonial home of football this afternoon.
“It been some time since we collected maximum points at Rufaro Stadium before our fans, it’s been painful and disappointing, so we are hoping to change this. We want to use home advantage to collect maximum points,” Ndiraya said.
“We also know the team we are playing against has been our bogey side for some time particularly when they come to Rufaro Stadium. But I am hoping that this time around with the preparations we have had we would be able to get points,” Ndiraya added.
But statistics show that Chapungu have struggled against Dynamos in recent times either at their Ascot fortress or in Harare.
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In the eight matches that the two sides have played since 2015, Dynamos have won seven and only one ended in a stalemate, last year at Ascot.
In fact, Chapungu have not beaten Dynamos in the league since the narrow 1-0 win at Ascot in May 2014.
However, Chapungu have done extremely well this season under coach Rodwell Dhlakama, having led the league race at some point, but now lie fifth with 19 points from 12 matches.
Dynamos, on the other hand, are in 12th place and have not won in their last two encounters.
“It’s really been difficult for us as in the last two matches we have not been getting good results and it is our wish that when we start games this weekend we will get the result that we all want,” Ndiraya said.
The Harare giants played a goalless draw in their last home tie against Manica Diamonds before going into the Afcon break on the back of a 1-0 away loss to rivals Highlanders. Ndiraya expressed concern over his team’s lack of goals and has added attacking midfielder Archford Gutu to the team for the remainder of the season with the player currently awaiting international clearance to play.
Dynamos have already agreed in principle with former striker Simba Nhivi and the player is set to don the blue and white strip again next week.
Reports also suggest that the club is looking to bring back FC Platinum defender Godknows Murwira, who seems to have fallen out with coach Norman Mapeza.
“Since my arrival here, our statistics in terms of goals scored have not been really good. We are managing one goal on average per match, which is not a good sign for a good team like ours, so Simba’s coming will hopefully give us more goals and help us win matches,” Ndiraya said.
With just seven goals in 12 matches, Dynamos have the joint worst strike force with Bulawayo giants Highlanders, who only scored their seventh goal of the campaign yesterday.
There was also talk of estranged footballer Denver Mukamba coming back to the club.
And for a change, Ndiraya enjoys a clean bill of health going into the Chapungu match this afternoon.
