The Sunday Mail
DYNAMOS have a plan to get back to winning ways. And it involves a midfielder who has been accused of being a druggie and a casanova. The man DeMbare hope will break a six-match winless streak is midfield player Denver Mukamba, who could today be deployed by coach Lloyd Mutasa as a striker alongside Wisdom Mutasa when Dynamis face Harare City at Rufaro.
Mukamba has dismissed claims that he is a drug abuser and playboy whose career is being choked by his off-field shenanigans.
Mukamba was one of five senior players dropped by Mutasa for last weekend’s draw with Bulawayo City amid accusations of sabotage and drug abuse at DeMbare.
But to his credit the 23-year-old former Soccer Star of the Year reacted to his axing in the best possible manner, raising his game at training and forcing Mutasa into a rethink.
Speaking at the end of a turbulent week, Mukamba – who was dropped alongside skipper Stephen Alimenda, fading striker Roderick Mutuma, Dominic Mukandi and ‘keeper Tatenda Mukuruva – declared that “it’s back to business”.
“The game against Harare City will be a totally different one. Yes, a lot of things happened in the last five or so games but let us look forward, we will fight.
“I am a human being who makes mistakes but it’s unfair to label me a drug abuser because I have never used bronco (Broncleer) in my life. Sometimes I visit Mbare to buy vegetables but people say ‘we saw Denver in Mbare buying drugs’. It’s unfair.
“I was dropped last Sunday and it affected me badly. But as a player I worked hard during the week and I am ready to do the business for this club,” said Mukamba.
Dynamos have gone six matches without celebrating a victory, they have scored only twice in over 560 minutes of action, and are now 11 points behind log leaders FC Platinum going into Week 20 of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.
Mutasa has been trying new combinations upfront and on Friday he partnered his son, Wisdom, and Mukamba in front of a midfield quartet of Tichaona Chipunza, Musa Madhiri, Masimba Mambare and Simbarashe Gorogodyo.
“We have been working together as a team, from the technical team to the ball boys. Even the president (Keni Mubaiwa) was here and addressed us on the issues surrounding the club.
“Usually I do not prefer to talk off the field, I was fighting for my jersey from Monday to Friday and I will prove a point on Sunday against Harare City,” said Mukamba.
The midfielder, who endured a forgettable three-year stint in South Africa’s Absa Premiership, is not yet back to the heights of 2012 when he dazzled the local league. His fitness level has also been a subject of immense debate.
“It is not easy to just pick up form when you spend three years without regular football.
I didn’t play many games in South Africa; I even pulled a muscle in my first game against ZPC Kariba so fans should be patient.
“Some will say Denver is finished, but I am not the first one to return home from a foreign league. I am still young and I want to work hard so that I return to the top. I can’t come back here and relax because fans know I was the Soccer Star in 2012.
“I want to push harder, soon I will be back in the Warriors set up and a move to Europe remains my top priority,” declared Mukamba.
The one-time Warriors captain also spoke about his relationship with Mutasa in the wake of sabotage allegations.
“There is no way I can forget that it was Mutasa who thrust me into the limelight when he brought me to Dynamos in 2011,” he said.
Fixtures (All matches kick-off at 3pm)
Bulawayo City v Caps United (BF), Dynamos v Harare City (Rufaro), Border Strikers v Ngezi Platinum (Dulivhadzimu), Triangle v FC Platinum (Gibbo), Mutare City v Hwange (Sakubva)
