Algerians fly into Harare for DeMbare clash

By Augustine Hwata

ALGERIAN champions Mouloudia Club Alger flew into Harare Thursday and immediately declared war on Dynamos when the two sides meet in a Champions League first round, first leg tie at Rufaro on Sunday.

The Algerians, who had been secretive about their travelling arrangements, came with a 24-member delegation on a flight from Johannesburg that touched down shortly after midday.

Le Doyen (the elders) as MC Alger are known by their supporters in Algiers, were keeping their cards close to their chests and not revealing much after their arrival. They hurriedly left the Harare international airport for their hotel but not before striker Youssef Sofiane had boldly declared their intentions of upstaging Dynamos.

Sofianne, who started his youth career at French side AJ Auxerre before joining English side West Ham United, is one of the star players for the side. The 27-year old French-Algerian player said they were confident that their coach Noureddine Zekri’s knowledge of Dynamos would help them in Sunday’s battle at Rufaro.

“Our manager has an idea of how Dynamos play.  We were preparing according to the instructions from the manager who has seen them and knows how they play. He faced them when he was with Setif before,” said Sofiane.

Zekri was coach of another Algerian side Entete du Sportive Setif who lost 1-0 to at Rufaro in August last year. Wonder Sithole hit the roof of the net from the edge of the box as Dynamos registered a win that was to prove fatal to Zekri as he lost his job. Now Zekri’s troops are confident the coach will turn the tables on DeMbare this time around.

Sofianne revealed his team’s respect for DeMbare but remained confident that it is the North Africans who will advance to the second round at the expense of the Harare giants. Sunday’s game will be the first time that Zekri will be taking charge of MC Alger.

Frenchman Alain Michael who was coach paid the price for the Algerian champions’ recent slump in form and was sacked last week. According to reports from Algeria, Zekri had been jobless since Setif fired him last year. MC Alger have failed to win their last five games and are lying 13th on the Algerian Premiership table with 15 points from as many games.

Their league programme has reached the halfway stage but Sofiane said he does not believe that their poor domestic form will impact on their showdown with Dynamos. MC Alger also have national team goalkeeper Mohamed Zemamouche and veteran defender Reda Babouche in the squad that arrived in Harare yesterday.

Le Doyen have also brought midfielders Farid Daoud and Hamza Koudri for duty while Mohammed Amroune and Mohammed Derrag are also expected to be thrown into the fray against Dynamos on Sunday. “We are confident that we will qualify to the next round,” quipped Sofianne.

It also appears that the MC Alger had been spying on Dynamos as a player of Algerian origin trained with the Harare giants at Raylton Sports Club for much of last week. The Dynamos technical team could have unwittingly allowed a spy to train with them.

A player, whom the Dynamos coaches were made to believe was a 16-year-old schoolboy from Algeria, trained with the DeMbare squad but the player’s handler was at the Harare International Airport yesterday to welcome the MC Alger delegation.

In qualifying for a first round date with Dynamos, MC Alger drew 1-1 with Real Olympic Bangui of the Central African Republic before winning 2-0 in Algiers for a 3-1 aggregate victory in the preliminary round. Dynamos, who are ranked the ninth best club in Africa, received a bye in the preliminary round.

While Dynamos have been a regular feature in the Champions League, MC Alger are only making their return to Africa’s biggest club knockout competition after an 11-year absence. The Algerians won the tournament in 1976 when it was still known as the African Cup of Club champions, but later failed to build on their success as they have made limited appearances in the competition.

Since their last Champions League appearance in 2000, MC Alger only made one appearance on the continental stage when playing in the 2008 Confederation Cup but made a second round exit from Africa’s second tier competition.

MC Alger’s lack of regular Champions League action could also come as a blessing in disguise for DeMbare for whom coach Lloyd Mutasa has assembled a side composed mainly of rookies.

Mutasa held another workout with his charges at the match venue yesterday morning with newboy Roderick Mutuma likely to lead the line of attack if their training session was anything to go by.

But having fought many Champions League battles as a player, Mutasa will surely know the significance of experience at this level of the game and may have to turn to old warhorses like skipper Desmond Maringwa, Murape Murape and George Magariro to provide the on-field leadership.

Mutasa also has at his disposal the midfield trio of Archieford Gutu, Denver Mukamba and Devon Chafa and defender Gift Bello who were rested during the NetOne Charity Shield clash against Motor Action last Sunday.

The DeMbare coach can also throw into the fray former Douglas Warriors forward Tawanda Muparati, Farai Vimisayi, Augustine Mbara and Timire Mamvura while the Warriors duo of Guthrie Zhokinyi and goalkeeper Washington Arubi are certain to start and use their international experience.

Meanwhile, the Dynamos FC Supporters Association National Executive has called on all football fans to rally behind both Dynamos and Motor Action on their continental assignments this weekend.

The supporters’ executive secretary Benjamin Munzira reckoned that their presence at both matches could help spur Mighty Bulls and DeMbare to victory. Munzira said the national suppor-ters’ executive led by Philemon Bonde are set to convene a meeting at a city hotel to map the way forward ahead of the Dynamos Golden Jubilee celebrations.

“We have partnered S. Chiware Sports Consultancy and on March 19, we are going to meet as the national executive with all the chapter chairpersons and map the way forward on our membership drive and fundraising activities,” said Munzira.