The Sunday Mail
Ishemunyoro Chingwere
tensions are running high at Dynamos.
Chairman Kenny Mubaiwa and coach Kallisto Pasuwa’s working relationship is said to have irretrievably broken down.
“All is not well here. The chairman and the coach are no longer on talking terms and this is really affecting the team.
“The two gentlemen’s close working relationship brought us success over the past three seasons and we cannot afford to have them not talking for a day longer,” said a source who cannot be named as Dynamos have barred both players and officials from talking to the Press save for mandatory post-match interviews.
Mubaiwa, the source added, accuses Pasuwa of influencing the players to revolt against his leadership while the gaffer believes his long-time ally has joined a clique that is pushing for his ouster.
Morale is at a low ebb in the champions’ camp amid revelations that players and members of the technical team were given US$5 each as “refreshment allowances” for the trip away to Chapungu.
DeMbare lost the match 0-1.
The club’s supporters are also a divided lot and police had to intervene as they fought at Ascot after their team lost on the pitch.
It is against such a background that Pasuwa goes into today’s clash against a confident Buffaloes outfit at the National Sports Stadium with loads of pressure on his shoulders.
Pasuwa’s men have not been convincing this season with established internationals Partson Jaure and midfielder Devon Chafa yet to find their footing after serving bans.
The strikers, too, have been misfiring and the gaffer has been forced to toy around with various combinations as he seeks to get the goals flowing.
However, amid a sea of lukewarm performances, veteran midfielder Stephen Alimenda has measured up to the expectations of the DeMbare faithful.
They will be banking on him again this afternoon.
Dynamos will have to do without at least seven players with utility man Sydney Linyama (knee) and winger Cliff Sekete (groin) joining a long-term injury casualties list of Murape Murape, Masimba Mambare, Tawanda Muparati, Clive Kawinga and Simba Sithole.
Buffaloes coach Luke Masomere knows that mayhem and Dynamos are like Siamese twins.
He is not reading much into the disturbances being reported in the champions’ camp.
“Dynamos cannot suddenly become a bad team simply because they lost to Chapungu or because their camp is said to be bedevilled with problems” quipped Masomere before highlighting that he would now prefer to be referred to as commander as he is now in charge of an army outfit.
Buffaloes come into the match on a high after a 1-0 triumph away to Harare City.
However, Masomere appreciates that the champions are a different opposition.
“Dynamos traditionally do well at home so we need to be very careful.
“As we go into the match, we know we are entering a lion’s den but we will also put our lack of funding problems behind us, put up a brave fight and resist everything that will be thrown at us,” he said.
The army side will once again bank on the leadership of towering Prosper Matizanadzo and goalkeeper Blessing Mwandimutsira.
With midfielder Tafadzwa Mombeshora, whose solitary strike sank Harare City in midweek suspended, Masomere is likely to turn to the trickery of Frankson Bushiri as he seeks to perforate the Dynamos midfield.
Fixtures
Chapungu v Shabanie Mine (Ascot);
Black Rhinos v Chicken Inn (Rimuka);
Dynamos v Buffaloes (NSS);
Highlanders v CAPS United (Barbourfields, SS); Triangle v ZPC Kariba (Gibbo)
