The Sunday Mail
AS Lloyd Mutasa takes charge of Dynamos’ 79th league match since he took over from Paolo Jorge Silva, in May 2016, the gaffer admits he is yet to take the team to where they are expected to be.
Mutasa also appreciates that his club’s record against this season’s top six teams does not make good reading.
Dynamos lost all, and failed to score, against top six teams FC Platinum, Ngezi Platinum, Chicken Inn, Triangle, Caps United and Highlanders during the first half of the season.
They lost 0-2 to defending champions FC Platinum and fell to Ngezi, Chicken Inn, Caps United and Highlanders by identical 0-1 score lines.
Their heaviest defeat came at Triangle where they were clobbered 0-3.
The 1-1 draw against Chicken Inn in the reverse fixture a fortnight ago gives Dynamos a point out of a possible 21 against the league’s six leading teams — a very poor success rate of 4.7 per cent.
“Obviously, Dynamos being Dynamos we are a top team but we can only say we are a top team if we play and win against top competitors like your Ngezi, Highlanders so to say,” said Mutasa.
“We have probably not done well against these top teams but we are saying we have been accorded a chance to make it happen. This game against Ngezi is the opportunity to show that we have improved from the first half of the season.”
Dynamos are a far cry from the 2017 side that surprised many by finishing second behind FC Platinum and Mutasa admits that a lot of work still needs to be done to get his team firing again.
“When we took over we had a lot of changes, bringing in a couple of youngsters and we came fifth in 2016, the season I took over from Jorge Silva.
“We then came second in 2017 and this is the third season. Two and half years in charge actually, but we haven’t really taken the team to where we want it to be. Dynamos being Dynamos you would want to win cups, win leagues and we are pushing the youngsters,” said Mutasa.
The DeMbare coach believes the coming in of a new executive will enhance his rebuilding project at the faded giants who last won the league title in 2014.
Newly appointed president Solomon Sanyamandwe now supervises an executive which is chaired by banker Isaiah Mupfurutsa.
“There seems to be a bit of stability within the family now but that sort of stability has to now translate onto the field of play. Results on the field of play should support the stability that is now within the team.
“However, building a championship winning team takes time, it requires patience. During my playing days I came to Dynamos end of 1994, we won the league in 1995 and some cups in 1996 but we had a real shot at the Champions League in 1998 and that was after four years.
“You will have been very fortunate to build a team and win the league there and there. These youngsters I have need to know what it means to play for Dynamos and it doesn’t take a day. It’s a process, but you look at their age, eagerness and desire and you say these guys can do better,” a confident Mutasa said.
Apart from goalie Tonderai Mateyaunga who is nursing a right ankle injury, DeMbare have no other injury worries and were boosted by the return of skipper Ocean Mushure who had gone on an industrial action over outstanding signing on fees.
Fixtures
Herentals v ZPC Kariba (NSS), Triangle v Highlanders (Gibbo), Dynamos v Ngezi Platinum Stars (Rufaro), Mutare City v Chicken Inn (Vengere)
