The Sunday Mail
DYNAMOS coach Kallisto Pasuwa was last night still pondering on whom to give the honours of guarding goal — between the under fire Artwell Mukandi and a fast improving Tatenda Mukuruva — ahead of today’s Castle Lager Premier Soccer League clash against Bantu Rovers at Rufaro.
Ordinarily, Mukandi would have been the automatic choice but his horror show in the 5-3 midweek defeat of Harare City has forced the DeMbare technical team seriously thinking about giving Mukuruva, who did well during Mukandi’s injury induced absence, a longer run.
Information gathered from the champions’ camp late last night indicated that most positions had been decided upon save for the goalkeeper’s.
“A decision will be made just a few hours before the game,” revealed a DeMbare official.
Away from his goalkeeping selection dilemma Pasuwa is wary of Bantu Rovers.
“We have to take the game against Bantu seriously. It is how we look at these teams that counts most. Remember what happened in the game against Chapungu, you could see that the first 45 minutes we thought it was going to be easy for us to win but we couldn’t beat them and we drew 1-1.
“We are saying every game that comes we should take it seriously, it doesn’t matter that they have already been relegated, everybody should take these games seriously,” said Pasuwa.
As has been the norm, Dynamos will miss a number of key players, some of whom need almost a week to make a full recovery after playing on the “killer” artificial turf at Rufaro.
On the flip side, Bantu Rovers make the trip to Harare with their tails up after becoming the first team to inflict a home defeat on Chapungu in the midweek fixtures. “Our primary objective as Bantu is to give youngsters a chance to excel in football by exposing them to the highest level of competition at a tender age.
“We also want them to develop a winning mentality, so when we come to Harare, we will not be looking at doing Dynamos or anyone any favours.
“We are coming there to win and I am happy the game comes on the back of us making history by inflicting Chapungu their first home defeat. Morale is very high in our camp and the boys are looking forward to causing another upset,” said Coach Mandla Mpofu.
Having won just six matches in 27 outings, Bantu are the second least winning team in the league after basement club Chiredzi, who have won just three times.
Bantu have picked the ball from their nets a massive 42 times making them the poorest defending team in the league and chances are high they will crumble today against a Dynamos side that scored five against Harare City in a midweek thriller.
While DeMbare have injury concerns, the visitors have no such worries as their veterans, Hebert Dick and Obadiah Tarumbwa, have recovered from knocks picked up in the midweek 3-2 win over Chapungu.
Bantu will look up to midfielder Tafadzwa Kutinyu and highly regarded Nqobizitha Masuku to stand the ground against their more illustrious opponents.
Goalkeeper Takunda Mutanga could be shielded by Zephania Ngodzo, Teenage Hadebe and possibly Dick as they bid to shut out a DeMbare frontline which will likely feature Washington Pakamisa and Rodreck Mutuma.
Both sides have a player each on suspension with Dynamos missing midweek standout performer Ocean Mushure while Bantu have Master Mlangeni sidelined.
Fixtures:
Today:
Buffaloes v Caps United (Sakubva), Triangle v Hwange (Gibbo), Dynamos v Bantu Rovers (Rufaro – SS), Black Rhinos v Shabanie Mine (Rimuka), How Mine v Chapungu (Mandava)
Tomorrow:
Highlanders v Chiredzi (Hartsfield)
