The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda
LINCOLN ZVASIYA apologised in front of his teammates at Friday’s training session after his much publicised fallout with coach Lloyd Mutasa following Thursday’s 1-1 draw at Shabanie Mine. Zvasiya was at fault when Shabanie equalised in the 87th minute and in a fit of anger, the centre back headed straight for the changing rooms without partaking in the team’s routine warm down exercise.
Mutasa ordered him back onto the pitch amid an exchange of words. However, all seemed back to normal in the Dynamos house on Friday with Mutasa declaring that his boys are ready to recover from the midweek setback and get the business done against Harare City at the National Sports Stadium this afternoon.
“The boys have recovered psychologically from that game and everyone is now focused on the game against Harare City,” said Mutasa, whose side has been boosted by the return of Joel Christian Epoupa from suspension. The Dynamos gaffer is pleading for calmness amongst the club’s faithful following a bothersome period that has seen the Glamour Boys fail to win in three consecutive league games. If you include last Sunday’s Chibuku Super Cup exit, then DeMbare have now gone for four games without a win.
Three times they have surrendered a lead and some of their fans are already questioning the team’s character. Are the wheels slowly coming off the rail?“No, not all!” declared Mutasa.
“We are saying the fans must believe in us because we do believe in ourselves. We didn’t just wake up on top of the log but we worked hard for this. So there should be no reason to panic.” However, their last three league encounters have cast a spell of doubt over the team’s capacity to reclaim the league championship last won in 2014 when Kallisto Pasuwa was in charge. DeMbare have two points out of nine from two draws against Highlanders and Shabanie Mine plus that heartbreaking 0-1 loss to Caps United.
Last Sunday, the Glamour Boys were booted out of the Chibuku Super Cup by Bulawayo City. But Mutasa still believes.
“We will not disappoint them (fans),” he assured.
“They just have to play their part because it’s a division of labour, all stakeholders have to play their roles.
“We had suspensions and injuries which disrupted our rhythm. But it’s a phase that will come to pass.
“We just have to remain focused on our matches, keep our feet on the ground and keep working hard. Twice we had a six match winning run and we are able to do that again,” Mutasa said. Apart from Obey Mwerahari who is still recovering and Emmanuel Mandiranga who is a major doubt, DeMbare are without Godfrey “Marabha” Mukambi who picked up a knee injury at Maglas.
Denver Mukamba will not be part of the cast once again as his match fitness continues to be a major talking point. Harare City’s outspoken coach Philani “Beefy” Ncube loves derailing the big boys and has been waxing lyrical ahead of this tie.
“The fact that Dynamos have shifted the game from Rufaro to the National Sports shows how desperate they are for the three points.
“I do not know how they will benefit from playing there but what I know is if we can win at Mandava we can also win at the National Sports.
“But it’s not going to be easy for sure. One team is fighting for the championship and the other is fighting against relegation and that will certainly make it interesting,” said Ncube.
