Under fire Dynamos coach vows to stay on

By Grace Chingoma

Under fire Dynamos coach Elvis Chiweshe yesterday gave the biggest hint possible, that he will not bow down to pressure from his critics to quit, by declaring that he wanted to win the domestic championship for another dance in the Champions League next year.

Chuchu has come under increasing pressure from his team’s fans who waved goodbye to him after a lifeless show by the Glamour Boys in a 1-1 draw against Douglas Warriors in their last league match.

Crucially, he also appears to have lost the support of a media that hailed his work when he took over as Dynamos coach last year following the resignation of David Mandigora and posted a number of good results.

Dynamos somehow conspired to lose the league championship race last year, choking at crucial moments, after having earlier established what looked like an unassailable lead.

That Moses Chunga engineered Gunners’ sensational coup, in which they came from behind to beat DeMbare in the championship race, rubbed salt into the Glamour Boys’ wounds.

That campaign, too, was not without incident and after a poor result at Rufaro against Kiglon, Chuchu needed a police escort to leave the stadium as angry DeMbare fans demonstrated against him.

Initial reports after that ugly incident indicated that Chuchu had resigned, but he emerged later to tell the nation that he was still in charge and would complete his assignment. Now, almost a year after that incident, Chuchu is still in charge but what can be questioned is whether the assignment has been completed.

Anger has been building within the DeMbare fan base, with a number of people convinced that he is not the right man for the job, and the pressure on Chuchu has been intense.

On Sunday, Dynamos crashed out of the Champions League when they lost 1-2 to TP Mazembe — their third loss in four Champions League group games — and, for the umpteenth time, pressure will be exerted on Chuchu. The Glamour Boys returned home on Monday night from the Democratic Republic of Congo and yesterday trained at Raylton ahead of their Premiership tie against Black Mambas at Rufaro this afternoon.

And, if Chuchu had been hoping to find a hiding place following the team’s elimination from the Champions League, then he will quickly realise that such luxuries are not available at Dynamos. What is a fact is that his Dynamos — who crashed out of the Champions League seven points adrift of the leaders with a game still to play — are 12 points behind leaders Motor Action in the championship race.

And they face a Mambas team that has undergone transformation, thanks to the grand efforts of their sponsor Nkululeko Sibanda of Twalumba Holdings, and a number of familiar faces that were frustrated from the Glamour Boys. One of them is goalkeeper Willard Manyatera, who was deemed excess to requirements, before the same DeMbare officials came knocking at Mambas door to try and secure a rent deal for his services in Lubumbashi.

Interestingly, despite all this pressure, Chuchu remains calm and yesterday he was concentrating on what he can change — the destiny of the domestic championship — rather than nurse the wounds from the Champ-ions League elimination. “I am happy that we are still second-placed yet we have not been playing regularly,” said Chiweshe yesterday.

“And we can easily reduce the gap if we win all our games in hand, but that means collecting maximum points . . . draws are out of question. If we had played our games in hand and had dropped points, it was going to be a different story, but the good thing is we have the games to play and catch up.

“And with all the attention now diverted to the league, it is very possible. But this has to start tomorrow (today), if we are to fight for honours.” Chiweshe said some of the players who featured for Dynamos in this year’s Champions League were making their maiden adventure on the continent and, having tested the waters, now wanted more and to play again next season.

“Some of the players were playing for the first time, they have tested the waters and need to fight and win and play again. So obviously they are focused and motivated because they know what’s at stake,” said Chiweshe.

He said concentrating on the league would afford all his players time to play together on a regular basis. Some of the players like former captain Murape Murape, Lloyd Hlahla and Francis Mandiwanzira were not registered to play in the Champions League and had to feature in the league games only.

Chuchu had to field a skeleton side against TP Mazembe following the suspension of seven key players and he will welcome back goalkeeper Washington Arubi and key forward Benjamin Marere. Arubi, Marere, Ashley Rambanapasi, George Magariro, Brighton Tuwaya, Dylan Chivandire and Farai Vimisayi were suspended for the TP Mazembe tie. Rambanapasi remains on the sidelines with an injury.

Chuchu, under pressure, finally threw veteran midfielder Desmond Maringwa into the starting XI against TP Mazembe and he respo-nded by creating the goal scored by Thabani Kamusoko. Although the former Sundowns’ star scored his second Champions League goal this season, he is yet to fit into the DeMbare style of play and has struggled for form since his arrival.

Dynamos struggled for goals in the Champi-ons League and, save for the second half of their tie against Botswana misfits Gaborone United, their forwards were poor in front of goal on the continent. Can the likes of Evans Gwekwerere find their touch now that they are in familiar territory? Chuchu said he expected a tough game today because teams have a tendency of raising their game whenever they play the Gla-mour Boys.

The Douglas Warriors that held DeMbare were soundly whipped 1-4 by Highlanders in their next league match. “Every team, no matter how they will be struggling, want to win when they meet De-Mbare,” said Chuchu.

“During my playing days at Eagles, we would raise our game even if we had not been playing good football.But that is the challenge of playing for DeMbare and we expect them to give us a tough afternoon, but we need to be prepared. We should not lose the match.”

Mambas, who managed a single point in a brave show in back-to-back clashes against champions Gunners, are no pushovers. The former DeMbare striking duo of Audie-nce Rundofa and Sebastin Mutizirwa, which has fired blanks in the last two matches, will be hoping to find the back of the net against their former club.

Coach John “Toto” Ncube said his charges are ready to give the former champions a tough fight. “We are ready for the game and it will be a 50-50 situation. We now have experienced players whom we acquired during the transfer window and are used to playing these big matches and will not be intimidated by DeMbare and the crowd.

“After playing Gunners twice inside a week, the players are back into form. The break had affected us but the Saturday game was better than the midweek game and we managed to get a draw from the champions. We are struggling upfront and we have been working on the strikeforce. Players like Isaac (Madziva) and Richard Mteki are playing very well and should trouble them if they continue from where they left at the weekend,” said Ncube.

While Ncube desperately needs a full set of points to move from the relegation zone, their hosts are desperate for a win. Another mediocre performance will exert pressure on Chiweshe whose job remains on the line with a section of DeMbare supporters happy to see him leave his post.

Fixture

Today: Dynamos v Black Mambas (Rufaro).