The Sunday Mail
Makomborero Mutimukulu
Sports Editor
MAYBE it was banter, maybe it wasn’t but Dynamos coach Lloyd Chigowe’s description of champions FC Platinum as a beast that had just “eaten” Harare City was hilarious.
“It’s a good start for us yes,” said MaBlanyo after DeMbare had beaten Mushowani Stars 2-0 at Rufaro last Saturday.
“But we have to remember that there is a beast called FC Platinum, we saw them eat (sic) Harare City. They are the champions and dangerous.
“For us we just want to make sure that we are in the championship equation,” added Chigowe in a post-match interview with ZTV’s Charles Mabika.
Oh Blanyo, how funny art thou!
The win over Mushowani saw the Blue Army leaving Rufaro with the belief that this is the year their team will once again terrorise these isles, the year they will remind everyone that the lion on their club badge does indeed have some teeth. A sweet brace from either leg of Ngandu Mangala delivered opening day maximum points for DeMbare.
It’s the year of the drum at Dynamos so the drum played on long after referee Norman Matemera blew the final whistle.
From Masvingo to Marondera, Kwekwe to Kotwa, Chegutu to Checheche the mythical seven million souls celebrated a rare opening day triumph.
The last time Dynamos won their first game of the season was four years ago so this lot can be forgiven for going gaga after successfully negotiating the first of 34 steps.
But DeMbare’s perfect start to the season may not be what they needed.
That win made their fans forget or fail to realise that their team was dressed in a suspicious looking uniform labelled Adidas while wearing socks made by local apparel manufacturer Roar.
Another thing that the opening day win also masked was Dynamos’ vulnerability with Godfrey Mukambi playing as a defensive midfielder. Mukambi was all over the shore, ploughing into opponents and hoofing the ball up field more in hope than tact.
But with Cameroonian import Herve Vincent Mbega available visitors Hwange will step into Rufaro this afternoon expecting a DeMbare side that has solved its midfield madness.
Mbega is a smooth operator and is the epitome of precision when passing.
The Cameroonian is the type of guy who can thread the eye of the needle passes that Dynamos skipper Edward “Duduza” Sadomba feeds on.
“I know a lot is expected of me and I will do my best to make the fans happy.
“Last week I watched from the terraces and observed areas that need strengthening, hopefully I will get the chance to add value,” said Mbega.
There are no prizes for guessing that failure to keep the ball is one of the areas that the DeMbare new boy speaks of.
For Hwange, who marked their PSL return with a 2-0 win over a Yadah outfit that Walter Magaya is desperate to offload, this one is a free hit.
Chipangano coach Nation Dube is drilling into his charges the message that the pressure is on the hosts ahead of this 3pm kick off.
