Chihoro gets DeMbare kit

13 May, 2018 - 00:05 0 Views

The Sunday Mail

Langton Nyakwenda

THE first thing Richard “Nyoka” Chihoro did soon after his reinstatement as Dynamos team manager last week was to take possession of the team’s match day kit.

It was a small development that was greeted by warm applause by the DeMbare players who adore the 61-year-old football veteran.

Chihoro bounced back as DeMbare team manager following a technical reshuffle at the ailing giants that saw former coach Lloyd Mutasa “kicked upstairs” to the post of technical director with assistant Biggie Zuze taking over.

Goalkeepers’ coach Zondai Nyaungwa was also swept away by the midweek tide.

The 61-year-old Chihoro, who many believe is Dynamos’ juju man — a claim that he vehemently denies — was booted out on January 30 under unclear circumstances but sensationally bounced back last Wednesday.

The following day, Chihoro repossessed the jerseys that Mutasa took from him under unclear circumstances last season.

“I am happy to be back at the team I call my home but let’s talk later. Right now I am busy with the handover takeover of the jerseys,” Chihoro said, as he took stock of the blue kit that was stashed in his car boot at Motor Action Sports Club last Thursday.

DeMbare begin life after Mutasa with today’s tricky match at Bulawayo Chiefs, the club that handed defending champions FC Platinum a 2-0 defeat on April 21.

Interim coach Zuze wants his players to move on from the boardroom drama.

“I appreciate this chance to coach the team and the only thing I can do now is try my best,” said Zuze, who could land the job on a permanent basis if he impresses in the next seven games.

DeMbare president Keni Mubaiwa revealed that dozens of coaches have expressed interest in one of Zimbabwean football’s most demanding jobs.

“A number of coaches have phoned wanting to find out about the Dynamos job but for now we are giving Zuze a chance. I am sure our position on the log standings at the end of the first half of the season will determine how we will proceed,” said Mubaiwa.

In his first match, Zuze is unlikely to make wholesome changes to the team as he stuck to the 3-5-2 formation during the midweek training sessions.

Mutasa’s son Panashe may be dropped for today’s game with Peace Makaha coming in to play a bit further up on the right channel.

Vice skipper Obey Mwerahari and defensive linkman James Marufu are out of this tie due to injuries with Jimmy Tigere and Marvelous Mukumba coming in as replacements.

Meanwhile, DeMbare’s disastrous start to the 2018 campaign has prompted board chairman Bernard Marriot Lusengo to look at ways of reinforcing the team’s executive.

According to insiders, Marriot met former vice president Solomon Sanyamandwe last Thursday, with a view of persuading the one-time club benefactor to bounce back as executive chairman, but nothing materialized.

When contacted for comment, Sanyamandwe poured cold water on his reported come back.

“I am not part of the Dynamos executive and I am not coming back anytime soon. Maybe I will only do so after some necessary changes have been made to the set up,” he said.

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