HARARE giants Dynamos will be looking to build on last week’s first victory of the season when they take on stubborn Bulawayo Chiefs at Rufaro Stadium this afternoon.
Bulawayo Chiefs have become Dynamos’ bogey side after they claimed six points from their much fancied opponents in the league last season.
In the eight matches that they have played, Chiefs have won three while Dynamos have also won three with two other meetings ending in a stalemate.
While Bulawayo Chiefs had a flying start to the season as they sat in third place after four matches, the same cannot be said about the Genesis Mangombe coached side, who claimed their first set of three points away at newcomers Bikita Minerals last week.
Mangombe is hoping that playing in front of the home fans will spur the team to yet another win.
“We are playing at home and we know the fans are the 12th player. These guys on the field of play give it all trying to win. But as you know a game of football has three results,” Mangombe said.
“They are posting good results and it means they are a very good side. So, we need to be well-prepared for this team and make sure they don’t find us wanting especially on the fast breaks, the counter-attacks; and also their transition is perfect. So, we are working on those things and I am sure these boys are understanding what we want,” he added.
However, Dynamos will be missing the services of captain Frank Makarati as well as key player Donald Mudadi and Tanaka Shandirwa, who propelled the club to the Chibuku Super Cup triumph; and a third place finish in the league.
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A defeat for Dynamos could mean the beginning of the end for Mangombe after some section of the club's fans called for his ouster following a home draw against Yadah Stars on match day three.
But Mangombe is not pressing the panic button just yet as he expressed satisfaction with the way the team was creating chances from the onset.
“It might be a slow start; we were creating some chances in every game that we played, but we were failing to convert them. Maybe we were supposed to be working on our finishing because you never know who will get the chance," he said.
“We need to work on our strikers also to have the knowledge and confidence that these games are won by scoring goals.”
Dynamos have five points from the first four matches and have conceded four goals in as many games while they sat in ninth place going into the weekend fixtures
Chiefs started the season with a 2-1 defeat against Green Fuel before playing a one-all draw against Highlanders and then claimed back to back wins in Hwange and at home to Yadah FC to sit third with seven points from four matches.
Coach Thulani Sibanda is confident his side can still come to Harare and upset Dynamos at Rufaro.
“Playing away to Dynamos; they are a big side, but we are not intimidated, we have gone to Rufaro and we did things. But overall, I think we may not have experience, but we have got talent,” Sibanda said.
Today’s Fixtures
Highlanders v Chegutu Pirates (Barbourfields), Manica Diamonds v Chicken Inn (Sakubva), Hwange v TelOne (Colliery), Dynamos v Bulawayo Chiefs (Rufaro)
