Will Dynamos throw in towel?

By Makomborero Mutimukulu

DYNAMOS will have to do what they haven’t done in their illustrious but turbulent history to keep their fading hopes of landing a fifth, on the bounce, Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title alive.

Now what is it that the mighty DeMbare – the irresistible force nicknamed Chazunguza – has not done in its 52 years of existence?

Well Dynamos are yet to have a full meal at Chicken Inn having drawn with the Gamecocks on all the three times they have visited Bulawayo.

And if ever they needed a full course today is the day.A draw with the log leaders will pull the plug on the life support machine that has been prolonging their championship interests.

A maximum points haul would not swing the championship pendulum in their favour either as FC Platinum also have interests.

However, Dynamos will be painful body blow on Chicken Inn and a huge confidence booster for the defending champions. Coach Tonderai Ndiraya appreciates the task at hand.

“We are playing a very good Chicken Inn side with a very good coach in Joey Antipas who has won titles before,” he said on the eve of his team’s trip to Bulawayo.

With eight rounds of matches to play Chicken Inn lead the log with 49 points, seven more than third placed Dynamos.

Antipas has been speaking of getting something out of this afternoon’s clash and those who know the veteran coach will tell you Mafero has done the maths.

Getting something is another way of saying a draw will suffice. A stalemate will see Chicken Inn, who did a job on Ronald Chitiyo and walked out of Rufaro 3-1 winners in the reverse fixture on May 3, maintain the six point gap between them and the team they want to dethrone. With the help of his trusted assistant Prince Matore the championship winning Antipas knows this one is more psychological than anything else.

Cool heads has been the buzz phrase at Chicken Inn in the build up to the game. Skipper Danny “Deco” Phiri confirmed as much when he spoke to the team’s website.

“The guys have been playing very well but such games need the players to bring their ‘A’ game and l call for the guys to do just that although with level heads,” the midfielder was quoted as saying.

By his own admission Antipas is now a better coach that the man who won the league title with Motor Action – again with Matore by his side – in 2010. Age and understudying former Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp transformed the coach who dresses like a hip hop star once in a while.

Chicken Inn, despite having their leading scorer Edmore Chirambadare back in the groove, will not be chasing this one. Antipas will not let them, he knows his team can win it without chasing it. It is Dynamos, who have seen relations between their striking duo of Roderick Mutuma and Takesure Chinyama hit a low, who will have to do the probing.

Mutuma and Chinyama were last week involved in “normal” training ground bust up that, unlike dozens of others that happen at other teams’ workouts almost every day, unfortunately found its way into the media.

Ndiraya with this sports management degree knows such negative energy can be used to fire up his strikers for an important game like the one against Chicken Inn.

Mutuma and Chinyama don’t have to like each other to do the job for Dynamos. Andy Cole and Teddy Sheringham didn’t exchange pleasantries on and off the field but they were a dangerous attacking pair for Manchester United.

Chicken Inn-Dynamos Head to head

May 3, 2015 – Dynamos 0-3 Chicken Inn
August 6, 2014 – Dynamos 1-1 Chicken Inn
June 28, 2014 – Chicken Inn 0-0 Dynamos
November 17, 2013 – Chicken Inn 2-2 Dynamos
April 1, 2013 – Dynamos 1-1 Chicken Inn
September 26, 2012 – Chicken Inn 1-0 Dynamos
May 20, 2012 – Dynamos 2-1 Chicken Inn

Fixtures

Chicken Inn vs Dynamos (Barbourfields), Whawha vs How Mine (Ascot), Dongo vs Hwange (Vengere), Caps vs Highlanders (NSS). The Sunday Mail