The Sunday Mail
AND THE CAPTAIN SAYS . . . DeMbare
skipper Augustine Mbara is
confident the team is good hands
Ishemunyoro Chingwere – Sports Reporter
DYNAMOS captain Augustine Mbara has thrown his weight behind under-fire coach David “Yogi” Mandigora.
Mandigora endured the humiliation of being “smuggled” out of Rufaro last Sunday as a militant section of the club’s fans demanded that he be fired after a goalless draw with Tsholotsho FC.
Tempers might reach boiling point if DeMbare put up another lifeless show against Kelvin Kaindu’s Triangle at the National Sports Stadium this afternoon.
However, Mbara feels the fans are being harsh on Mandigora.
“The coach and the technical team need everybody’s support,” Mbara said after the team’s training session on Thursday.
“We have not done horribly bad as we are just two points behind the log leaders (going into match day 12).
“The fans need to understand that Dynamos are part of a bigger competition and sometimes slip.
“The most important thing is how we respond after slipping. There is no need to demoralise the coach at this stage because doing so also affects us the players. I don’t think that is what we want for Dynamos.
“However, the good thing is that from where we stand we have 100 percent confidence in the coach and the technical team. We will always give it our best for them and the good of the club.
“We, therefore, appeal to our supporters to join us in giving our coach all the support he needs,” said Mbara.
With 21 points from 11 matches, Mandigora’s men have done better than the Class of 2011 which had a meagre 16 points from the same number of matches.
The 2013 and 2014 seasons yielded 19 points apiece, returns which fall two points behind what Mandigora has achieved.
He, however, falls two points adrift of the achievements of the Class of 2012 which had bagged 23 points after the first 11 assignments.
With nine goals so far this season, DeMbare are the worst scoring among the top seven-placed teams.
Triangle have been hitting the back of the nets for fun, having scored a massive 26 times and their coach, who is still seeking his first victory over Dynamos, is confident.
“I am sure the time will come (for me to beat Dynamos). It’s a different season and I always expect something different. We know what Dynamos can do. They are the champions and we have so much respect for them,” said Kaindu.
Today’s fixtures:
Dynamos vs Triangle (NSS), Whawha vs Hwange (Ascot), How Mine vs ZPC Kariba (Luveve), Tsholotsho vs Caps United (Barbourfields).
