Troubled DeMbare jet into Congo

By Ishemunyoro Chingwere

Troubled Dynamos finally arrived in Kinshasa yesterday ahead of what seems to be a Herculean date against AS Vita who they failed to beat in their own backyard in the African Champions League first round last week.

The match kicks off at 3.30pm. Player unrest and uncertainty over their travel arrangements might have thrown a damper on

Zimbabwe’s sole representatives in the competition in a week in which they needed unhindered concentration on the job at hand, but the Kallisto Pasuwa-coached side knows perfectly well that they have no option but to measure up to their billing today.

The strike that robbed Pasuwa three training sessions – one on Tuesday and two on Wednesday – didn’t get the sympathy that such actions usually get as the DeMbare faithful felt the players whose salaries are up to date, a feat not many clubs can boast of, blew the purported crisis out of proportion.

But now that their bonuses have been paid, the Glamour Boys will this afternoon need to summon all their prowess to outwit their fancied hosts in a rather delicately poised duel at the Stade Tata Raphael.

That Pasuwa carried just but one striker in Simba Sithole after fellow gunslinger Washington Pakamisa pulled out of the trip with an ankle knock will conveniently push the team into defensive mode although goals are necessary in a match the champions must score to triumph.

Club secretary Webster Chikengezha, whose executive had a tumultuous week trying to weather the storm that had befallen them, was a relieved man as he told The Sunday Mail Sport that he was in constant touch with Pasuwa who told him that they had been warmly received before familiarising with the match venue.

“I am in constant touch with the team and they are telling me that everything is going on very well inasfar as the reception they got from Vita.

“They have managed to train at the match venue and the coach says even players like Partson (Jaure) and Sydney Linyama, who he feared injured, came out very well.

“The only worry they reported was that it is very humid and temperature was at 30 degrees Celsius, which is quite hot. Our striking options have been limited, but the coach was telling me that they will have to make do with what is available. Besides what the coach told me yesterday, remember I saw the guys off at the airport and I can safely say they are ready for the challenge,” said Chikengezha.

While the neutral observer was moaning the timing of DeMbare’s woes, the faithful were arguing that the three-time consecutive Zimbabwe champions tend to thrive under difficult conditions thus they expect to break into victory songs at the end of the day.

Pasuwa, who has presided over a trophy-laden era in his three-year reign before buckling on the international stage in three attempts, is under no illusion as to the panacea to the seemingly unquenchable thirst of the DeMbare faithful.

“We might have lost two days of training, but no lamenting will ever return that, we are happy that we finally trained so we will have to focus only on our positives because that is the only way we can progress,” Pasuwa told journalists after his players ended their strike.

Pasuwa is also happy with the return of Zimbabwe international midfield pivot Devon Chafa who missed the last six months serving a Fifa-imposed sanction for testing positive for a banned substance.

If Chafa returns with the form that has made him a household name, he can be the game changer for the visitors whose performance in midfield left a lot to be desired in the first leg which ended in a goalless draw.

But to expect a game-starved Chafa, who has not featured in competitive combat in half a year, to single-handedly secure DeMbare’s passage, will be too much and DeMbare will thus need to fire from all cylinders.

Lone striker Simba Sithole has had issues with his fitness but has been declared fit to lead the line today and will be counting on support from such proven match winners as new boys Masimba Mambare and Ronald Chitiyo who are likely to operate from the wings.

Reigning Castle Lager Soccer Star of the Year Tawanda Muparati, who is yet to justify his claim to the local throne both in national and club colours since his “inauguration”, will have to provide direction and balance in midfield alongside either Walter Mukanga or the returning Chafa and Stephen Alimenda.

Linyama and Jaure’s partnership at the heart of defence should provide cover for big and reliable George Chigova while Ocean Mushure and Oscar Machapa patrol the wings.

Dynamos probable line-up

G Chigova, P Jaure, S Linyama, O Mushure, O Machapa, S Alimenda, W Mukanga, T Muparati, M Mambare, R Chitiyo and S Sithole. The Sunday Mail