Moses Chunga taunts Dynamos

By Mtulisi Mafa

GUNNERS’ coach Moses “Bambo” Chunga has taunted championship rivals Dynamos by suggesting that they are having nightmares ahead of their Super Sunday Showdown at Rufaro where a defeat will spell the end of the Glamour Boys’ battle for the CBZ Premiership title.

Such a result would see Gunners being crowned the champions of domestic football for the first time while Chunga will also capture his maiden league title as coach.

Chunga has refused to offer any clue about his future, should his side land the crown in the blood-and-thunder showdown on Sunday.

Bambo described his side as “Bambinos” who were having peaceful nights, ahead of the showdown, while their rivals could barely afford to sleep and resemble a camp of players who have been diagonised with insomnia.

Chunga believes that DeMbare’s problems emanate from their fear that they could lose the championship battle on Sunday and, should that happen, possibly also lose their quest for a place in the Champions League next year.

Gunners sealed their place in the Champions League, quite a remarkable achievement for a team that only came into the Premiership last season, with a 2-0 win over Monomotapa while Dynamos complicated their season when they fell 3-2 to Kiglon.

Should Dynamos lose on Sunday and then lose against Shooting Stars in their final game of the season, CAPS United could finish second with victories in their last two matches, and grab the second Champions League slot.

Chunga’s men now hold the aces in the league championship race as they lead with two points with as many games to play and a win over DeMbare will land them the title.

Unlike DeMbare, Gunners can lose on Sunday and still live to fight another day by winning their last game — and hoping that the other results go their way — and take the league title.

“We are sleeping very well and you can call us Bambinos because we can sleep from six to six, but our neighbours are really having problems,” said Chunga yesterday.

“They can’t sleep well because they don’t even know whether they will be playing in the Champions League next year.”

But the former Warriors captain was quick to point out that his camp was not getting too excited about the possibility of being champions and believes the real job is yet to be done.

He still, however, believes his side could win against a club that adores him so much and where he earned his legendary status.

“I think I’m still putting my feet on the ground and we have to finish the job at hand and the good thing is that we have taken the initiative and we are trying to put the icing on the cake,” said Chunga.

“We have always given ourselves a chance to win every game, we go out to win matches and I don’t think it will be any different this time.

“We have achieved a lot and we are where we are because of character and we can’t be bothered by this game on Sunday.

“Everyone is aware of what’s at stake but we have always gone into such games with a winning mentality,” he said.

A lot has been said about Gunners’ poor record against Dynamos given that they have not beaten their opponents since they came into the Premiership.

Chunga has not won a league title since he took up coaching more than a decade ago and this has led many of his critics to question his credentials as a coach.

But it’s something that reads like some joke at the theatre for Chunga and last night he didn’t have any kind words for his critics.

“People are concerned about what has happened before but if you look at it, there is history to be made on Sunday, so that’s what I can worry about not something that has happened and is now past,’ said Chunga.

“As far as I’m concerned, records are there to be broken and I think people are sweeping what we have already achieved under the carpet. It takes great character to be where we are.

“I want to emphasise that in every game we play, we have one main objective and that is to win.

“I also want to make it loud and clear that I don’t have anything to prove to anyone and I live for Moses Chunga.”

The big match on Sunday has attracted so much attention in and around the country that some felt there was need to appoint foreign referees to handle the game.

Local referees have come under fire on a number of occasions for their questionable performance and a game of such significance and magnitude deserves the best in the land.

But Chunga backed the local officials and believes they have done a wonderful job despite some complaints by clubs.

“The referees this season have done a wonderful job and they are human and mistakes happen all over the world,’ said Chunga.

“Football is a very emotional game and we have said stuff about referees after games, but then we still shake hands with them later.

“We just hope that whoever takes charge will be fair and it’s only good for our football that there is Fair Play in this game.”

Gunners will, sadly, be without their impressive winger Ali Sadiki whose arrival from South Africa gave them a lot of width down the flanks and gave a new dimension to their attack.

Sadiki is injured and is now likely to miss the rest of the season.

But the Gunners are not a one-man show and Chunga, with a little bit of help from skipper Trymore Mtisi and leading goalscorer Norman Maroto, brings the same never-say-die spirit — which they learnt during their years at Dynamos — into a balanced team.

Inspirational midfielder and skipper Ramson Zhuwawo, one of the best players in the Premier-ship this season, also learnt a thing or two about resilience during his time at DeMbare.

Gunners believe that this could be their Finest Hour and you just need to go to their training ground at Allan Wilson School to realise that this is a group that believes that it has a date with destiny.

It has been a hive of activity at Allan Wilson this week with former players, including Francis Chandida, coming to the training sessions to try and boost the confidence of the players ahead of their adventure in the Super Sunday Showdown.

No wonder Chunga can afford to sleep well.