The Sunday Mail
MASIMBA DINYERO’s bubble has burst at the wrong time and the gaffer, who not so long ago was regarded as Harare City’s messiah, is in danger of slowly scripting his own “hero to zero” tale.
Four consecutive defeats, 13 goals conceded in the process and only a superior goal difference above the relegation zone are worrying statistics that have triggered panic at Town House.
Last Saturday’s 2-3 loss to ZPC Kariba, the third consecutive game Dinyero’s boys conceded three goals, left City level on points with Black Rhinos, who occupy the fourth relegation spot with 34 points.
Harare City now have to fight for their stay in the Premiership and face a tough Caps United side this afternoon before rounding off the season against an unpredictable Chicken Inn at Rufaro.
Dinyero cuts a dejected figure as the sun is not shining on his Sunshine Boys.
The “Dutch Mentor”, as Dinyero is known in football circles, spent the better part of last week “battling to lift his boys’ spirits.”
“After such defeats, the players’ morale is usually affected and true, morale is at its lowest, but it has nothing to do with football politics because the executive has given us splendid support through and through.
“I think complacency crept into the boys’ heads after that purple patch at the beginning of my reign, but reality is dawning now that a lot still has to be done.
“Concentration levels are surprisingly low, but we have been working on that. We are in a bad situation, but we are not worried much because we know we will definitely survive the chop. The guys responded well during the week and I can see they are eager to play against Caps United with a different attitude.
“We are one of the strongest teams in the league and have to prove it by beating Caps and Chicken Inn,” said a defiant Dinyero.
Dinyero took over from Bigboy Mawiwi on an interim basis at the beginning of August when City were languishing third from bottom with just 15 points from 16 matches.
He immediately turned things around with a five-match unbeaten run that saw City swiftly moving away from danger.
Dinyero instantly endeared himself to the powers that be at Town House where talk of a possible top four finish resurfaced.
But things have dramatically changed.
Dinyero finds himself not only having to battle against relegation but also battling to convince the city fathers to give him the job permanently for the 2015 season. He also has to grapple with the absence of key players ahead of today’s crucial encounter against Caps United.
David Kutyauripo, defensive linkman James Jam, wingback Munyaradzi Diro Nyenye (all suspension) and impact player Martin Vengesayi, who is yet to recover from injury, are out.
“The situation is not that bad. Remember every team is in the top flight league for results and all teams go through bad patches at some stage and we should expect to win some and lose some,” said Dinyero, who is confident of landing the substantive post after surviving relegation.
Harare City chairman Alois Masepe insists his executive is fully behind Dinyero, whose target “has always been to survive relegation.”
“We made an undertaking with the acting coach when he took over and that target still stands. Dinyero is under no pressure at all, he has our backing. It is unfortunate that he has faced some big guns in recent weeks, but I think we will survive relegation.
“It was Masimba (Dinyero) who gave himself such targets as top four and top eight finishes, but we as management never gave him such targets,” said Masepe.
Pressed to comment on whether Dinyero’s recent results would affect his standing come next year, Masepe could only say: “Let us take it one season at a time; for now he has to survive relegation.”
