Breather a relief, says Mutasa

By Grace Chingoma

Dynamos interim coach Lloyd Mutasa believes the one-week Premiership football break was a blessing in disguise for his charges ahead of the tricky away fixture against Chapungu as they had ample time to work on some key areas that were lagging behind.

Mutasa, who was given five games by the club’s executive to prove himself, has put behind him the home defeat against Highlanders in their last match as they hope to bounce back to winning ways.

The Bulawayo giants broke a 10-year jinx when they finally beat Dynamos 2-0 at Rufaro two weeks ago.

The former champions have become subject of ridicule in the local football circles and this week a joke circulated that Malawi were refusing to leave the country demanding a match with DeMbare because they did not want to leave without a win.

That is how the mighty have fallen.

But their mentor Mutasa is focusing on striking the right chords with the team and believes they have covered some ground which may help them arrest the poor performances since the beginning of the season.

“I think the break gave us a chance to put our house in order. It was an opportunity for us to address the areas we were coming short. Hopefully we have played our part and what we did will reflect on the Chapungu match,” said Mutasa.

Since he took over from the Portuguese coach Paulo Jorge, Mutasa has got a single victory against Tsholotsho from the three matches he has presided so far.

His performance would be reviewed by the club’s executive after the next match against Ngezi Platinum.

However, the former midfielder is focusing on collecting maximum points on the road against Chapungu.

“We are hoping to bounce back to winning ways, we want to try and have an away record which is good.

“This season we have only lost to Chicken Inn on the road, so we would want to maintain that and continue to do well. It would be a tough assignment but we are preparing to come out victorious,” said Mutasa.

It is Dynamos’ home record which has been very miserable this season with the team yet to register a victory at Rufaro.

Apart from the 1-0 victory against Tsholotsho at Barbourfields, their other victory has been a 2-1 win over newboys Mutare City.

Dynamos even mulled changing their home ground to the National Sports Stadium following episodes of hooliganism at Rufaro but reversed the decision preferring to stay with the famous Mbare venue, which is more central to most of their supporters. Mutasa said he is not bulking under pressure and will take each game as it comes.

Yesterday, the team had a practice match with Division Two side New Life Academy, who they beat 4-0.

Dynamos midfielders Brett Amidu, Kelvin Bulaji, Walter Mukanga and striker Kudzanai Nyakasaka scored the goals.

Yesterday, the club also introduced five young players that are on trials as the club seek to boost the team and fill some of the vacant Under-19 slots.

Dynamos will be without goalkeeper Tatenda Mukuruva and defender Elisha Muroiwa, who left for the COSAFA tournament in Namibia yesterday.

This will leave the other goalie Tonderai Mateyaunga with a chance to get into the team for the first time this season after playing second fiddle to the Warriors goalkeeper.

The Premier Soccer League have postponed games involving Highlanders and Chicken Inn as they have more than three players in the national team.

Chicken Inn have four players in the squad after their veteran forward Obadiah Tarumbwa, Tafadzwa Kutinyu, Lawrence Mhlanga and skipper Danny Phiri were included in the Warriors’ travelling side.

Highlanders have Bruce Kangwa and King Nadolo in the COSAFA squad while their teenage sensation Prince Dube is also not available as he heads to Cameroon with the Zimbabwe Under-20 side for the return leg of the youth Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Only Harare City, without the trio of Blessing Moyo, Raphael Manuvire and Farai Madhanhanga who are also away in Namibia, have decided that they have enough arsenal to carry on with their games.

A club that has three or more players in the national team can exercise the prerogative to have their fixtures postponed.

Pacesetters FC Platinum, who also had three players in the national squad, ended up withdrawing the duo of Wisdom Mutasa and Hillary Bakacheza so that they continue with their Premiership programme.

They only released midfielder Marshal Mudehwe, who is rarely used at the club. The Herald

Fixtures

Saturday: FC Platinum v ZPC Kariba (Mandava), Tsholotsho v How Mine (White City), Chapungu v Dynamos (Ascot).

Sunday: Mutare City Rovers v Bulawayo City (Sakubva), CAPS United v Triangle (National Sports Stadium), Ngezi Platinum Stars v Harare City (Baobab).

*Highlanders v Border Strikers (Barbourfields, postponed),

*Hwange v Chicken Inn (Colliery, postponed).

*Matches postponed due to three or more players called for national team assignments.