The Sunday Mail
ITS TIME TO GO . . . David “Yogi” Mandigora (right) seems to be saying to Tonderai Ndiraya, the man he has backed to prosper at Dynamos. Picture: Kuda Hunda
JETTISONED Dynamos coach David “Yogi” Mandigora has backed Tonderai Ndiraya to succeed where he seemed to be failing.
The veteran gaffer, speaking for the first time since his sacking on Thursday, also dismissed talk that Ndiraya backstabbed him in a bid to land the most demanding job in local football.
“I worked well with Tonde and there is no single day I suspected that he was pushing for my downfall.
“He is a coach who has matured and I wish him the best,” said Mandigora.
“What happened last week is something we agreed on when I took up the job to coach Dynamos.
“The executive tasked me with collecting 30 points from the first 15 games of the season, I failed and we parted ways. There are no hard feelings about it.
“I would like to thank everyone I worked with at Dynamos, the players are a special bunch and I wish them well.
“The executive and fans shared the same desire with me and that is to see Dynamos doing well.
“As I leave, I wish the club all the best and hope they will win the league this season.
“Dynamos have always been a title chaser from the days it was formed and even from the days we used to play.
“The team is in a strong position to defend the title and I am sure they will succeed.”
It has since emerged that an admission that the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League race will get tougher as it heads towards the business end turned out to be Mandigora’s waterloo.
The Dynamos executive, especially club president Kenny Mubaiwa, were miffed after watching Rodrick Mutuma deployed in an unfamiliar midfield role during the 1-all draw away to Highlanders last weekend.
However, the idea of axing the veteran gaffer wasn’t considered an option until Mandigora responded to a question about his favoured 4-5-1 formation during what was supposed to be a routine meeting in the capital on Thursday evening.
“Kenny was fuming after the Bosso game, he felt we could have won it had Roddy (Mutuma) played as a striker but never did he suggest firing Mandigora until the coach responded to the question on formations,” a member of the Dynamos executive revealed.
“Yogi, in response to questions on the formation he used as well as the sidelining of players such as Oscar Machapa, Carlos Rusere and Blessing Moyo, said the competition in the league had become tight and no team can be taken for granted.
“He said the race for the league title would get tighter during the second half of the season and could not guarantee an improved performance or the league title.
“That is when the suggestion to relieve him of his duties was raised and it sailed through.”
Mubaiwa confirmed Mandigora’s remarks as the straw that broke the camel’s back.
“An an executive we wanted insight into the way the coach was deploying his team as well as why some players were not playing and the answer he gave did not satisfy us at all.
“The fact that we settled for Tonde shows we had not thought about firing the coach prior to the meeting.
“If that was the case, we would have recruited a new coach instead of elevating one of his assistants.”
Mubaiwa remains confident DeMbare will defend the league title and points at the manner Kallisto Pasuwa masterminded a smash and grab in 2011 after taking over from Lloyd Mutasa for reference.
Four years ago Pasuwa’s arrival coincided with the return of Cuthbert Malajila, today Ndiraya begins his reign with Takesure Chinyama back in blue.
