The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda
THE last time Edward Sadomba featured in a Battle of Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League duel at Barbourfields was in 2008 on the wintry Sunday afternoon of July 13.
It ended with a 1-1 scoreline, with Douglas Zimbago putting Bosso ahead in the 31st minute before Murape Murape responded for DeMbare three minutes before the breather. Most of the players who now put on the blue and white shirt were still at primary school level then.
Now back at DeMbare, after 10 years on an international football journey that took him to South Africa, Mozambique, Sudan and Libya, Sadomba finds himself in a dressing room full of Premiership rookies. Back in 2008, when Sadomba made a blistering start – scoring five goals in the opening five matches – DeMbare paraded an array of stars like Desmond Maringwa, Justice Majabvi, Norman Maroto, Leonard Tsipa and Mtshumayeli Moyo. Today, as they head into another instalment of the Battle of Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, the ailing Harare giants can only boast of a bunch of novices, most of whom were playing lower division football last season.
If selected, it will be the first time for the likes of Tawanda Chisi, Munyaradzi Mawadza, Junior Selemani, Ngandu Mangala and the impressive Emmanuel Jalai to play in the Battle of Zimbabwe, later on in front of an intimidating Soweto Stand at Barbourfields.
Subsequently, a lot will be expected from Sadomba, who unfortunately is yet to score in seven starts for Dynamos.
Sadomba, who has played a total of 563 minutes, including the away match at Chicken Inn during which he was red-carded after only 42 minutes, insists he is not under any pressure to score “because I have other roles that I play apart from scoring.” “Contribution is not made on the field of play only, sometimes you contribute off the field. There are some roles that I play even off the pitch, like always reminding the new boys about the team’s culture and history.
“The main target during the week was to make sure all the players know exactly what it means to play for DeMbare, especially during games like the big one coming on Sunday (today).
“These are the kind of games that can make a player, club heroes are made in these games and we have been talking about it with fellow players.
“The good thing is that some of the players are getting it, even the combinations are now coming up.
“As for myself, I am not under any pressure (to score) because the club comes first. If I don’t score and the team wins then that’s it. “Sometimes you fail to score but you create scoring opportunities for others.” said the 35-year-old skipper.
Inconsistent Dynamos, who have been operating like a yoyo since the start of the season, are winless against Highlanders in their last three league meetings.
The last time DeMbare beat Bosso at Barboufields was on May 14, 2017 when they were awarded a 3-0 win after the match was abandoned due to crowd trouble.
However, Dynamos coach Tonderai Ndiraya is confident his rookies will soon find their groove.
“We have largely an inexperienced team which has played only 11 games together and naturally when you have such a team, you are bound to have some inconsistency.”
“More games will lead to more experience, leading to more understanding of each other. They will become more consistent,” said Ndiraya, who has lost once in seven games since taking over from Lloyd Chigowe.
The last time the two giants met in a league match at Barbourfields, Highlanders walloped Dynamos 3-0 on September 9, 2018. However, things have not been smooth at Highlanders, whose ship was rocked midweek by news that coach Madinda Ndlovu is moving to Gaborone United of Botswana.
Ndlovu, who has managed two wins in 11 outings, vehemently denied the Botswana link during the club’s Press conference in Bulawayo last Thursday and instead chose to focus on today’s showdown.
“We are back home now, preparing for probably a very tricky encounter, a game that even a street vendor will not allow a defeat…we are not going to allow a defeat on Sunday,” Ndlovu told the media.
“That’s Highlanders, we know the nature of these games. You don’t even need to motivate the boys, all players are putting a lot of effort.
“My appeal is that the stakeholders should come to the party, we are going to witness a very good game because Dynamos is a team that has a respected coach, I know the young man (Ndiraya) understands football, he proved it at Ngezi.
“We are going to see two teams that are well coached so I urge all supporters to know that there will always be moments when the other team is on top. There will be one winner, it might be a draw so let’s not fight. “This is only a game, we don’t want to lose lives because of sport,” said Ndlovu.
