Mutasa targets league title

By Tadious Manyepo

Dynamos coach Lloyd Mutasa says he is targeting the league title and failure to land it this year will mean he has failed as a coach. The Glamour Boys finished in second place last season and Mutasa believes his men can go a step higher this year even though bitter rivals CAPS United are assembling a very competitive side.

“Obviously, after working very hard last season to claim second place in the league marathon with predominantly new players, we are gunning for the big one this term,” said Mutasa.

“As Dynamos, we play to win the league title and having come second last term, it only makes sense for us to try and win the league title this season.

“I am very comfortable with the players I have at my disposal. I have all those whom I want to be part and parcel of my team. I believe they will deliver.”

DeMbare have been boosted by the return of their chief Cameroonian striker Joel Christian Epoupa who could not sign for the South African ABSA Premiership side SuperSport.

The big striker returned to Zimbabwe on Wednesday night and attended the team’s session yesterday although he was rested.

Mutasa is resigned to losing midfielder Masimba Mambare whose contractual negotiations with the Glamour Boys have stalled.

The injury-prone Mambare spent the better part of last season on the sidelines, but was expected to play a big role for DeMbare, having fully recovered from a leg injury.

But the player has failed to reach an agreement with the team’s executive over the renewal of his contract which lapsed in December last year.

And Mutasa has literally closed the door on the former Motor Action and Highlanders man after revealing yesterday that if the player fails to pen a deal by the end of today, he will be out of his plans.

“I needed his (Mambare) services this season, but it seems the team’s executive and the player are failing to reach common ground.

“But, on the field of play, you can see that we have covered much ground and we are already in Week Three. The season starts next month and I wanted the player by tomorrow (today).

“If he cannot make it, then we will have to look elsewhere,” he said.

Mutasa has also signed former ZPC Kariba and Harare City playmaker Raphael Manuvire to bolster his squad.

He is still assessing the Congolese duo of Tshipampa Babadi and Francis Lukonde, both 22, who are from the Tongogara Refugee Camp in Manicaland.

Mutasa said he has lined up a friendly match before his charges take on CAPS United in the Commander Zimbabwe National Army’s Charities Shield semi-final on February 18.

Mutasa revealed he will miss the services of the re-assigned manager Richard Chihoro.

Chihoro was removed from the team’s managerial role on Tuesday.

“I will obviously miss Mr Chihoro on the bench. He is such a good person and together we did well to drive Dynamos to a second place finish last season.

“However, I am sure that he will always come and assist as and when we need his services since he is part of us.

“He has not been removed from the team set-up, but has just been redeployed so I know he will always be there even if we will be missing him on the bench.” The Herald