Dembare lock horns with Bosso

By Petros Kausiyo

AFTER giving way to the Cosafa Senior Challenge for a fortnight, the CBZ Premiership race swings back into action this weekend with the three main title contenders — Dynamos, Gunners and CAPS United — facing tricky assignments.

The interest in the championship race will certainly be boosted following revelations that the clubs were yesterday guaranteed prize money for their efforts in the league this season. The champions will get US$35 000, the runners-up will pocket US$25 000 and there will be different end-of-year packages for all the teams depending on their position on the log table.

This means that the domestic champions will now get almost the same amount of prize money that the Warriors received for winning the Cosafa Senior Challenge Cup. Each club will today get US$2 000 as part of that package.
Domestic football had to take a breather from October 17 to November 1, as Zimbabwe hosted 12 other Southern African countries in the annual tournament which the Warriors won via a brilliant 3-1 triumph over bitter rivals Zambia at Rufaro last Sunday.

Now after being united for the cause of their fatherland, the players have returned to their respective bases and will now shift their focus to the battle for the ultimate prize on the local game — the league championship. Log leaders Dynamos with a single point advantage over Gunners make the long trip to Bulawayo for a date against old enemies Highlanders at Barbourfields on Sunday.

Dynamos have amassed 50 points from 26 matches, second-placed Gunners have played the same number of games and are a point behind while CAPS United, who have forced their way back into the reckoning, are eight points behind DeMbare but have a game in hand. Moses Chunga’s Gunners will receive unpredictable Highway at Gwanzura hoping that they overcome the Mutare newboys while DeMbare slip up at Bosso.

CAPS United, who were the Premiership’s in-form team when the league programme gave way to the Cosafa tournament, face a tough task against BancABC Sup8r champions Lengthens at Rufaro. Makepekepe provided the largest number of players to the Cosafa Cup-winning side with Warriors skipper Method Mwanjali, Gilbert Mapemba, Tafadzwa Rusike, Ashley Rambanapasi, Nyasha Mushekwi and big goalkeeper Edmore Sibanda playing a huge role in the national side’s success.

CAPS United also had leftback George Karimupfumbi on standby for the Warriors while midfielder Raquib “Lulu'” Milanzi sat on the bench for Malawi in the Flames’ quarter-final clash against Mozambique at Rufaro, albeit in a 1-0 losing cause. Mapemba was such a revelation he won the praise of his coach Sunday Chidzambwa, who singled him out as the player who had impressed him the most.

Mwanjali was the Warriors’ best player for the tournament, providing the defensive shield, while Mushekwi returned from injury in time to give the cutting edge to the senior team’s attack in the final. But there is no doubting the big clash in the weekend’s programme is the latest in the Battle of Zimbabwe series between Bosso and DeMbare at Barbourfields.

The massive showdown comes at a time when in-house squabbles have resurfaced at turbulent Dynamos amid reports of a serious fall-out between club chairman Partson Moyo and secretary-general Stanley Kasukuwere. Dynamos players last week went on strike over unpaid salaries and only resumed training on Tuesday after a three-day boycott.
The boardroom wrangles also appeared to suck in some members of the technical department and a few players.

But club coach Elvis “Chuchu'” Chiweshe yesterday distanced his technical department from the boardroom problems and insisted his players had not lost focus of their bid to win the championship. Chiweshe claimed that neither he nor members of his technical department had taken sides with the faction that stands accused of bidding to topple Moyo from the club chairmanship.

“I don’t have any problems with my players. I do not run the club, I run the team because as head of the technical department I am in charge of Dynamos football team which means I am responsible for the results on the field.
“The only time I was involved with off-field events was when I went to collect the players’ salaries and incentives from the sponsors and I am happy that since then my players are in high spirits and have been training well.

“I want to also make it clear that it would be unfair to try and drag the technical team into the boardroom problems.
I am not interested in any fights for power at Dynamos and I have never attended any meetings. “I only run around for issues that involve my players and my technical team not about anyone else’s problems,” Chiweshe said.

Chiweshe said he had also been happy to note that his Warriors quartet of strikers Cuthbert Malajila, Phillip Marufu, winger Benjamin Marere and defender George Magariro “are back without any knocks and ready for club duties”.
“During the Cosafa tournament we did not break for long, we just rested for a week and then continued with training and played some friendly matches against fellow PSL sides and against TP Mazembe (of the Democratic Republic of Congo).

“I think we are still in shape and we just need to continue from where we left off when the league went on a break.
“At the moment the only minor worry is Brighton Tuwaya, but he should be okay by the time we go to Highlanders.”
Chiweshe said although he was bracing for a tough battle against Bosso, it was important that his side won their remaining matches if they are to keep the destiny of the championship in their hands.

“I have told the players that we are past pre-season, past mid-season and now it is the end of the season and the most important thing is to maintain our position at the top. “We know that it is not going to be easy because at this stage nobody wants to drop points, some are fighting relegation and others are fighting to finish in good positions.
“But we have to give it our best shot every time and remain focused,” Chiweshe said.

Chunga, whose Gunners have done a great job to keep the heat on their title rivals, also wants his charges to keep the kind of zeal they showed before the break. The Gunners’ coach noted that the break in the league programme would have its effect on the Premiership sides that had been gearing up for the title race’s home stretch.

Chunga, however, said he could not immediately ascertain the impact that the two-week lay-off would  have on their form. “We have been having some friendly matches during the break but it is not the same as having competitive games but such is life and we have to adapt to the situation.

“I think the impact of the break will only be felt after about two games,” Chunga said. Chunga also said he would not lose sleep over Highway ahead of the game. “Normally, I worry about how we are going to apply ourselves because I believe that we can only be our worst enemies. “We have always preached to the players the gospel of discipline so that whatever we do in life we have to work with minimum supervision and that means everyone has to understand their obligations to and the objectives of the club.

“I am sure with that gospel everyone has remained focused on the job at hand,” Chunga said. Gunners will welcome back Ramson Zhuwawo from the Warriors with the hardworking midfielder having played a cameo role in the national side’s Cosafa success.

Fixtures:

Saturday: Motor Action v Njube Sundowns (Motor Action Sports Club); Monomotapa v Shooting Stars (Rufaro).

Sunday: Black Rhinos v Underhill (Baghdad); Lengthens v CAPS United (Rufaro); Highlanders v Dynamos (Barbourfields); Gunners v Highway (Gwanzura).

Wednesday: Highway v Eagles (Sakubva), Highlanders v Hwange (Barbourfields).