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Callisto Pasuwa

Paul Mundandi Sports Reporter
IS the House of Gold that Callisto Pasuwa had built beginning to crumble? The Glamour Boys are out of the Mbada Diamonds Cup, are struggling in the league but just hanging on to their lead and, crucially, have been playing below par of late. If they lose against FC Platinum at Mandava tomorrow, a ground where they have never lost to their opponents, then people will have a right to say there is a crisis at the club.

They say that when it rains, it usually comes in buckets.
The DeMbare camp plunged into mourning yesterday when captain Murape Murape lost his father.

“There is so much pressure on us. We should have defended that (Mbada Diamonds Cup) and maybe it was going to be easy for us to retain the championship,” said Pasuwa.

“However, we will have to soldier on in the remaining games. We are going for recovery and then we will talk about it before we meet FC Platinum.”

FC Platinum were knocked out at the first stage of the Mbada Diamonds Cup but a strong finish in the championship race could land them the grand prize.

Lloyd Mutasa also have some issues to settle with the Glamour Boys.
“Only three points separate us and if we win tomorrow it will be very good as we can possibly lift the title. We have been preparing very hard for this match and my players know what is expected of them,” said Mutasa.

“Winning something for FC Platinum is something that I and my technical team are targeting. The youngsters are working very hard.
“We are aware that the destiny of the championship is not in our hands but we need to win matches.”

But Dynamos haven’t turned themselves into champions for the last two years by simply riding their luck, there is something special about them and it usually appears when they have been pushed into the corner as is the case right now.

Some DeMbare fans feel their team started losing direction when assistant coach Tonderai Ndiraya left the club and they now question whether his replacement, Philemon Mutyakureva, is providing the same technical guidance to the team.

One of Pasuwa’s finest moments, as DeMbare coach, came at Mandava when an own goal by Daniel Veremu, in the decisive match of the championship race, gave the Glamour Boys a priceless 1-0 win.

Rahman Gumbo was still the FC Platinum coach and the Zvishavane side, needing just a draw to be confirmed as champions, had prepared for their crowning moment by inviting all the chiefs in the area and even running a supplement in a Sunday newspaper celebrating their golden moment.

But the Glamour Boys changed all that, with a performance full of life, and were rewarded with a priceless victory that shattered FC Platinum and seasoned observers have said the club has never been the same since that day.

Things change, though, in life.
And, as How Mine showed on Sunday, nothing is impossible and, maybe, Mutasa could use this game to make a big statement and, against all odds, FC Platinum can march to the Promised Land come the end of the season.

With Bosso having a relatively easy tie against Tripple B at Barbourfields tomorrow, a DeMbare loss or draw, could open the door for the Bulawayo giants to take over as leaders.

And that could be a huge psychological blow for Kelvin Kaindu and his men to inflict on their rivals, especially against a background where they have the home advantage, in the big match against DeMbare, later in the campaign.

Whichever way one looks at this championship race, the Glamour Boys look like a Formula One car, which had taken a very good lead but has run into some serious engine problems and is now there for the overtaking by those following behind.

Fixtures

Today
Monomotapa v Triangle United (Gwanzura)

Wednesday
Harare City v Black Mambas (Rufaro), Motor Action v How Mine (Motor Action Sports Club), CAPS United v Chicken Inn (NSS), Hwange v Shabanie Mine (Colliery), FC Platinum v Dynamos (Mandava), Black Rhinos v Buffaloes (Rimuka), Highlanders V Tripple B (Barbourfields)