The Sunday Mail
ALICK MACHESO’S latest offering “Dzinosvitsa Kure” trended on local social media this past week and so did Warriors’ goalie George Chigova’s heroics at the Cosafa Castle Cup which ended in Polokwane yesterday.
Lloyd “Ma Blanyo” Chigowe also dominated social media as the 54-year-old Dynamos stand-in coach was the subject of ridicule on Facebook.
Renowned Facebook character Joseph Shoko had a field day belittling Chigowe, who presided over De- Mbare’s 0-3 loss at Triangle last Sunday, in the absence of Lloyd Mutasa, who was on national duty at the Cosafa tournament.
Some even joked that Chigowe had ambitions of one day coaching the senior national team while some mocked “Ma Blanyo’s” lack of dressing etiquette. The Sunday Mail also understands that some of the Dynamos players do not even take Chigowe seriously.
However, Chigowe – a renowned juniors coach who has produced scores of soccer stars in his three-decades-long career – seems to be taking in it all within his stride.
Last Thursday, the lanky gaffer even joked about the social media frenzy about him. “I have been made famous and infamous all in just a week. You the media guys have actually made me a celebrity,” joked Chigowe.
“Haa vanhu vandikwadza akomana (people have been on my case). Come on you media guys, interview me so that you can go back to your newsrooms and finish me off,” he threw another joke before he broke into a sarcastic chuckle.
“But, seriously, I know people love to judge others, sometimes unfairly, but such is life. What I know is I am not as daft as people think, I have been in this game for a long time.”
The 54-year-old Chigowe knows the demands that come with taking charge of Dynamos, a team that is a year older than himself and especially in a year like 2018 when DeMbare are enduring one of the worst seasons in their history.
Dynamos have three wins in 15 matches. Their last win was 28 days ago and they are only three points better than bottom-placed Mutare City whom they play at Vengere this afternoon.
With a paltry 14 points going into the penultimate match of the 2018 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League mid-season break, Dynamos are now genuine relegation candidates.
And Chigowe says he has been trying to work on the players’ mental strength as the crisis at the faded Harare giants gets deeper by each passing week.
“Dynamos are a big brand, we can’t continue losing matches at this rate. Very soon, we will back amongst the top teams,” said Chigowe.
He added: “What’s important now is the players’ mental strength. Psychology comes into play in these kinds of situations.
“How we recover is important but from the way we have been training and the boys’ application I am sure it can be done.”
DeMbare team manager Richard “Nyoka” Chihoro, who is walking on crutches after a freak injury during training, also threw his weight behind Chigowe. “Bad spells do happen in football and I believe we are currently experiencing one of them. But as a team we should not lose focus because of that. I can tell you the boys are very keen to turn things around,” declared Chihoro.
Bottom-placed Mutare City are fresh from a morale-boosting 2-1 win over Caps United last Sunday and could prove difficult for ailing DeMbare.
“Gusha Bhora” are also under the guidance of caretaker coach Ndega Matsika following the sacking of Joseph “Shabba” Takaringofa.
Matsika presided over last weekend’s victory over Makepekepe that took “Gusha Bhora’s” tally to 11 points but the Manicaland team remains rooted at the bottom.
