Monomotapa keep home record intact

 

By Petros Kausiyo

AFTER watching his charges claim the scalp of another continental giant, Monomotapa coach Rodwell Dhlakama wants his side to build the remainder of their African Champions League Group B campaign on solid home performances.

The Premiership champions continued with their fairy-tale run on their maiden dance with Champions League football by posting a sensational 2-1 victory over former champions Etoile du Sahel at Rufaro on Sunday.

Monoz went into the game as underdogs against the Tunisians who have built their profile on experience and previous successes in the Champions League and Confederation Cup.

The cash-rich Red Devils, who have actually won both the Champions League and the Confederation Cup, had not conceded a goal on the road in this year’s campaign.

But on Sunday they found the going tough against a Monoz outfit that seems to be perfecting the art of slaying the so-called top guns on the continent.

Former Mwana Africa striker Daniel Kamunenga gave Monoz just the perfect start that Dhlakama had hoped for when he took advantage of a defensive mix-up between the Etoile centre backs to fire a low grounder past goalkeeper Mathlouthi Aymen.

The match, which kicked off 30 minutes earlier than the usual 3pm schedule for local games, was just 1 minute 54 seconds old when Kamunenga found the target and some of the fans in the appreciative crowd had barely taken their seats.

Monoz, who occasionally showed signs of being affected by their long trip to Malaysia, then made sure of the priceless three points with a wonder strike — a volley struck on the turn in the 62nd minute by gifted striker Darryl Nyandoro.

Nyandoro’s star has been shining brightly for Monoz in this campaign with the champions having to ward off

Enquiries from a number of teams, including the South African pair of Ajax Cape Town and Kaizer Chiefs.

That Monoz took a huge gamble and played the former Zimbabwe youth international, only after Nyandoro had received a pain-killing injection moments before the game, also shows how much significance the club places on the lanky striker.

Etoile had earlier in the 50th minute capitalised on a poor piece of defending and some erratic goalkeeping by Godfrey Mangove to find the equaliser through Ahmed Akaichi.

That was before Nyandoro struck the goal that deserved to win any match.

Dhlakama, still relishing a fine victory that once again highlighted the quality in the domestic game, said he wanted his team to ensure they become virtually impregnable at home.

“We have to make life very difficult for visiting teams and ensure we win all our home games.

“This is the only way we can overcome the fear of the unknown that could affect a lot of players when you are playing away.

“At home you can control some things, you have to take advantage of the things that you can control and avoid losing too much sleep about what could happen away from home,’’ Dhlakama said.

Skipper Mthulisi Maphosa, who came from a long injury lay-off, should — with a bit of luck — have marked his turn with a goal after sweeping past two defenders and the goalkeeper before his effort was swept away from the line.

The Monoz captain paid tribute to Dhlakama and said the coach had told them before the crunch game that they should believe in themselves.

“The coach has always been telling us to believe in ourselves and that we should not look at the names of profiles of the teams we are paying against.

“When he first told us that we could move mountains if we believed in ourselves we doubted him but after beating ASEC and then Etoile du Sahel, we now believe we have the character to go all the way even to the final,’’ Maphosa said.

Monoz victory left them in second place on the Group B standings behind Democratic Republic of Congo giants TP Mazembe, who opened their mini-league campaign with a 2-0 win over Heartland of Nigeria.

The Zimbabwe champions are only in second place because of an inferior goal difference.

But Dhlakama believes Monoz should not focus much on what their Group rivals will be doing.

“We are also not worried about the Mazembe result, I don’t think we have to read much into what the teams in the group will be doing, we have to concentrate on games,’’ Dhlakama said.

Despite having claimed the scalps of two former champions — ASEC and Etoile — Dhlakama still singles out their preliminary round second leg match against Zanzibar outfit Miembeni as the toughest match Monoz have played to date.

“I think the Miembeni game in Tanzania is the most difficult game we have played so far, maybe because it was our first away game in this competition but I think what we experienced in that game has helped shape the character that is manifesting itself now.

“In Tanzania we were exposed to hot and humid conditions and some of the worst officiating I have seen and I have said to the players if we can show that kind of character in our future games we should be able to come good.”

Despite their sweet victory over Etoile, which has meant the Tunisians have left Harare empty handed on their back to back visits to the capital, Dhlakama reckoned the North Africans are “a very good side that can easily bounce back’’.

“Yes we beat them but they are a very good and young side, most of their players are below 25 years and I think they are a team that can bounce back and win against Mazembe in their next game.

“I think we took our chances in a game that could also have easily gone either way.

“We also looked at the magnitude of the game and took a huge gamble by throwing in Darryl and Mthulisi despite their injuries.

“If it were a local game they certainly would not have played but I am happy the gamble paid off,’’ Dhlakama said.

Dhlakama, however, said there would be no time to relax and bask in the glory of their Champions League triumph as Monoz will return to domestic duties against Hwange at Rufaro tomorrow. Source: The Herald