Langton Nyakwenda
NAMIBIAN striker Sadyney Urikhob has a history with Zambian side ZESCO United.
Urikhob scored against the Zambians when Young Africans of Tanzania lost 1-2 in a CAF Champions League first round clash at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola on September 28, 2019.
The 32-year-old is now at Zimbabwean giants Dynamos, who coincidentally face ZESCO in a CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round first leg match set for the National Stadium in Gaborone, Botswana, in a fortnight.
Urikhob, who also has national team caps with Namibia, is one of the six Dynamos players who have some experience in Africa’s inter-club football competitions.
DeMbare skipper Frank Makarati played for How Mine in the 2014 CAF Confederation Cup and the dependable centre-back believes experience will come in handy when he leads his troops.
Kevin Moyo, Eli Ilunga, Nomore Chinyerere and Frederick Ansah Botchway are the other Dynamos players with experience in Africa’s club competitions.
“It’s good for Dynamos to return to African club football because this is a very big stage,” said Makarati. “I have played in the Confederation Cup before with How Mine, and I am sure that experience will help me lead the troops.”
Dynamos are returning to the continental stage after 10 years.
Their last dance on the continent was in March 2014, when they were knocked out in the first round of the CAF Champions League by AS Vita of
the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Their last appearance in the CAF Confederation Cup was in July 2012, when they lost to Interclub of Angola in the play-offs.
The Harare giants, who will play their home matches in Botswana because Zimbabwe does not have a standard stadium, are hoping to impress on their return to the continent.
And in Moyo, who partners Makarati at centre-back, they have a player with some interesting experience.
Moyo played four CAF Champions League matches for FC Platinum in 2019.
He also played three CAF Confederation Cup matches for Nkana of Zambia in 2021.
And his knowledge of ZESCO United might be vital for DeMbare.
Ghanaian import Botchway also played in Africa with Hearts of Oak in 2021, while unheralded left-back Chinyerere played seven times in Africa with FC Platinum.
Congolese striker Ilunga played four Champions League games for Pure Platinum Play in 2020 and 2021.
The rest of the players on the list of the squad submitted to CAF by Dynamos last week have no experience in Africa’s club competitions.
However, this platform could be key for some talented players like Tanaka Shandirwa and Donald Mudadi.
Zimbabwe’s other representatives on the continent, Ngezi Platinum Stars, also have a largely inexperienced squad.
Madamburo play Maniema Union of the DRC in the CAF Champions League preliminary round first leg match at Heroes Stadium in Lusaka, Zambia, on August 17.
The return leg is in Kinshasa on August 25.
The Mhondoro side, who are making their maiden appearance in the Champions League, can bank on the expertise of midfielder Never Tigere.
The versatile linkman made 10 Champions League appearances for FC Platinum in 2019, before playing in the Confederation Cup with Azam of Tanzania in 2021.
Combative defensive midfielder Farai Edwin Madhanaga played seven Champions League matches for FC Platinum in 2019.
Skipper Qadr Amini played Champions League football for the now defunct Gunners and Dynamos.
Defender Kudzai Chigwida has two CAF Confederation Cup caps with Triangle United.
Ngezi Platinum Stars’ long-serving keeper, Nelson Chadya, has an interesting angle.
He is the only player left at the club from the squad that played for Madamburo in the 2017 CAF Confederation Cup.
Ngezi won that ticket after winning the 2016 Chibuku Super Cup in their debut Premier Soccer League season.
Takesure Chiragwi’s side also have some key players in striker Obriel Chirinda, defender Gareth Madhake, central midfielder Richard Hachiro and exciting winger Tino Meke, who joined from Green Fuel.
“The club have harnessed talent from our local market and are confident that the team will perform well and provide our players exposure during the Champions League competition,” said club chief executive officer Amanda Nyanzero.
Hachiro played for Zimbabwe in their last two World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and South Africa.
Ngezi Platinum Stars squad: Qadr Amin, Takunda Benhura, Nelson Chadya, Kudzai Chigwida, Talent Chamboko, Tatenda Chikowero, Obriel Chirinda, Moses Demera, Malvin Gaki, Richard Hachiro, Malvern Hativagone, Tadiwanashe Karima, Leslie Kashitigu, Gareth Madhake, Farai Edwin Madhanaga, Nigel Makumbe, Tapiwa Mandinyenya, Claude Mapoka, Mariyoni Chang, Blessed Mashonganyika, Carlos Mavhurume, Tinotenda Meke, Polite Moyo, Marvellous Mukumba, Nigel Munemo, Tinotenda Musariranwa, Nisbet Muzenda, Ellson Mweha, Adam Ngwena, Never Tigere
Dynamos squad: Prince Tafiremutsa, Emmanuel Jalai, Freddy Lyndon Alick, Frank Makarati, Donald Dzvinyai, Donald Mudadi, Elton Chikona, Emmanuel Paga, Sadyney Urikhob, Issa Sadiki, Valentine Kadonzvo, Nomore Chinyerere, Martin Mapisa, Frederick Ansah Botchway, Emmanuel Ziocha, Eli Ilunga, Keith Madera, Kevin Moyo, Temptation Chiwunga, Arthur Musiyiwa, Tendai Magwaza, Tanaka Shandirwa, Tatenda Makoni, Shadreck Nyahwa, Alexander Mandinyenya
