Be afraid, be very afraid!: Nothing can stop the DeMbare juggernaut, says The Prince

23 Aug, 2015 - 00:08 0 Views
Be afraid, be very afraid!: Nothing can stop the DeMbare juggernaut, says The Prince DEADLY DUO . . . Dynamos strike partnership of Takesure Chinyama (left) and Rodreck Mutuma is expected to play a crucial role as the champions gun for a record fifth straight title — (Picture by Kuda Hunda)

The Sunday Mail

IT is still August, but on-fire Dynamos striker Rodreck Mutuma is already thinking about Christmas.

DEADLY DUO . . . Dynamos strike partnership of Takesure Chinyama (left) and Rodreck Mutuma is expected to play a crucial role as the champions gun for a record fifth straight title  — (Picture by Kuda Hunda)

DEADLY DUO . . . Dynamos strike partnership of Takesure Chinyama (left) and Rodreck Mutuma is expected to play a crucial role as the champions gun for a record fifth straight title — (Picture by Kuda Hunda)

He wants a perfect festive season for his partner Paidamoyo, who miscarried earlier this year, and reckons the only way he can guarantee this is by making sure Dynamos win the 2015 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title.

A record fifth straight league title for DeMbare, which should come with enviable monetary rewards for the players, is the ultimate aim for the striker.

“The league, this is what it’s all about. We mean business,” said Mutuma.

The arrogant centre-forward, who likes to call himself The Prince, has been at the centre of DeMbare’s transformation under new coach Tonderayi Ndiraya.

Mutuma’s three goals in the last two matches — a brace in the come-from-behind win over ZPC Kariba on August 16 and a sweet one in the crucial midweek victory over Triangle — have breathed life into the champions’ campaign.

And Mutuma is at his bombastic best. “If DeMbare shifts into this gear, I am afraid nothing can stop them. The more we win, the more we get stronger and more united.

“We have families to look after, as men we have a duty to spoil our families, especially around Christmas. It would be a perfect festive season for my partner and family if we win a fifth straight title in November because that comes with monetary gains,” said the controversial striker.

Although he has emerged once again as DeMbare’s hero, Mutuma’s conversion rate has often been questioned.

His critics say the tall striker is so wasteful that he requires 10 clear chances to score one goal. But his uncanny ability to somehow always be at the end of DeMbare’s attacking moves has seen him notch crucial goals.

Mutuma fluffed quite a number at Rufaro last weekend but he atoned with two clinical strikes, the second one being the late winner that stunned a battling ZPC Kariba.

At Gibbo on Wednesday, the striker was the culprit as DeMbare missed two golden chances in the first 30 minutes but he once again redeemed himself with a fine strike just before the breather.

“Yes, they criticise my conversion rate, I know. But it is better to create chances and fail to score than not to create at all. What is good is that defenders are feeling us,” said Mutuma ahead of DeMbare’s clash with tricky Tsholotsho at Barbourfields today.

Triangle play How Mine at 1pm in the stanza of an appetising double-header at Bulawayo’s home of football.

Both matches are live on SuperSport.

DeMbare’s midweek victory, which left the champions tied on 35 points with Triangle and close to table-toppers Chicken Inn, has given the 2015 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League race a new dimension.

The victory appears to have revved up the defending champions’ machine and the blue family has reason to believe, once more, that they will make history. Yet only a week ago, there were lingering doubts over Dynamos’ capacity to mount a serious charge to a fifth straight crown. DeMbare went into last Sunday’s clash against ZPC Kariba eight points behind Chicken Inn and four behind second placed Triangle.

That has all changed and DeMbare are back in the mix of things.

It is not going to be easy.

A tricky fixtures list in coming weeks, including a trip to Norman Mapeza’s trailblazing FC Platinum provides DeMbare with a stern test as the season reaches its climax.

They also face How Mine (home), WhaWha (home), Chicken Inn (away) and Harare City (home).

Chicken Inn play Highlanders (away), ZPC Kariba (home), Triangle (away), Dynamos (home) and How Mine in the coming weeks.

Triangle will play FC Platinum (home), Chicken Inn (home), WhaWha (away) and Harare City (away) in the looming fixtures.

“We are Dynamos, renowned fighters. When it matters most we rise to the occasion. We have nothing to fear. If we can win at a difficult venue like Gibbo then we should be able to win anywhere else in Zimbabwe.

“Tsholotsho could be tricky. These so-called small teams are unpredictable but we have to crush them, we are looking at the bigger picture, the title. More goals and more victories for DeMbare are coming,” roared The Prince when asked about this run of fixtures.

The Takesure Chinyama effect on Mutuma cannot be underestimated and Mutuma admits the crown would not be his had the veteran Chinyama been a selfish strike partner.

Last Sunday, Chinyama teed up Mutuma for the first of his two goals and the experienced striker’s ability to draw defenders has often left The Prince with space to do what he does best.

“Teki (Chinyama) is a veteran, everything he does is super and I believe no single defender in the country can handle him. He needs the attention of at least two defenders, and that gives me space.

“He is creating chances for me and I also try to reciprocate. I would not want to say we are deadliest partnership in the country but at least defenders can feel us,” said Mutuma.

Mutuma has five league goals, five behind the league’s top scorer and Highlanders’ man of the moment, Knox Mutizwa.

Tsholotsho FC coach Lizwe Sweswe is aware that a Dynamos on song is a juggernaut but he has his own mission to accomplish: surviving relegation.

“Dynamos are dangerous now, they have suddenly transformed after changing their coach and bringing in new faces. They are gunning for the championship and they would want to collect maximum points.

“We are fighting against relegation, so we have to be cautious,” said Sweswe, whose side held DeMbare to a goalless draw in the reverse fixture on Africa Day.

Fixtures

How Mine v Triangle (BF), Caps United v Dongo (NSS), WhaWha v Highlanders (Ascot), Dynamos v Tsholotsho (BF), FC Platinum v ZPC Kariba (Mandava)

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