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Richard Chihoro

Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
PREMIERSHIP champions Dynamos will be out to put the pieces back together when they travel to the Lowveld tomorrow for a Premiership match against relegation fighters Triangle.The Harare giants assumed pole position this week despite dropping two crucial points in a 1-1 home draw against Hwange at Rufaro.

They badly needed to win that match to put behind them the effects of the numerous problems that besieged their camp recently.

Team manager Richard Chihoro yesterday said his side was looking ahead with confidence as they seek to tighten their grip at the top of the log standings.

DeMbare, however, should not expect an easy game at Gibbo where their championship aspirations were almost wrecked last year.

Chihoro yesterday reflected on the afternoon when they almost lost the match 2-1 before Simba Sithole grabbed a priceless last-gasp goal to force a hard-earned 2-2 draw.

“Away games are always tricky because the home team always has that psychological boost, but I think we are in good state now,” said Chihoro.

“Actually the spirit in the camp is high. Everyone is geared up, if you see the way we played against Hwange, especially in the first half, you will understand what I am saying.

“It was unfortunate we could not maintain that form in the second half.  We had wanted maximum points and it was unfortunate we lacked concentration towards the end.
“We are happy, though, because we are back at the top. We would want to maintain that position and obviously we are looking forward to collecting maximum points at Triangle,” said Chihoro.

Their coach Callisto Pasuwa returns to the bench tomorrow after completing a Caf A Licence coaching course.

Pasuwa has so much work to bring the team together and get his players focused following a week of strikes and the training bust-up which led to the suspension of club captain Murape Murape and Rodreck Mutuma pending trial.

Mutuma has since apologised for his actions.

Goalkeeper Artwell Mukandi, who missed the midweek clash against Hwange because of family bereavement, is expected back in the fold while Ocean Mushure is being monitored.

The Dynamos medical team were also keeping a close eye on rightback Blessing Moyo who was taken out injured on Thursday.

Despite the disappointment of crashing out of the Chibuku Super Cup this week, the Glamour Boys have not lost a league match in their last nine outings.

Their opponents Triangle have been on a recovery path following a slow start in the first half of the season.

The Sugar-Sugar Boys coach Biggie Zuze yesterday said they were looking to bounce back from the midweek disappointment at Highlanders where he felt his team was unfairly treated by the match officials in the 1-0 defeat.

“For us, it has been one big game after another. It’s been a hectic week. We have travelled long distances to Hwange and Bulawayo and fatigue should be our biggest problem at this point.

“But I think we can handle that because we have a competitive team in this second half of the season.  But it’s always difficult with teams like Dynamos because wherever they go in Zimbabwe they appear like they are the home team. So we have to gear up for the game.

“Only if we can take it up from where we left against Highlanders, I think we didn’t deserve to lose that game because we matched them in all departments and sometimes we were even on top.

“We were also better in terms of fitness but it was unfortunate the man at the centre spoiled an otherwise good game for us.  But we have told our players that despite the defeat we don’t have to keep our heads down, we have to build on the positives,” said Zuze.

Triangle suffered a blow with the injury to key defender Blessing Chimwamuchere who had a tooth knocked out following a bad challenge in the match against Highlanders.

Praise Tonha and Hardlife Mavundi missed that trip but were expected to have recovered for tomorrow’s game.

Former Dynamos winger Tineyi Chitora was walking wounded and will be among the players expected to take a fitness test today.

Triangle have a host of good players in the mould of Nhamo Lameck, Cabby Kamhapa, Graham Ncube, Charles Makoto Felix Kuswatuka and Charles Makoto.

Meanwhile, Dynamos chairman Kenny Mubaiwa said the Glamour Boys are looking to turn the corner.

He also said the Harare giants are closer to returning to their traditional Rufaro home ground as they are close to agreeing with the Harare City Council to slash their rates.

DeMbare had shifted base to the National Sports Stadium this season for economic reasons but the move appeared to hit the attendance figures and results.

“We are currently negotiating with the Harare City Council to return to Rufaro and I can  tell you we are almost closer now.  When we went to the National Sports Stadium we had failed to agree on our proposals  with the council over the issue of the rates.

“We could no longer afford to use Rufaro regularly but I am happy now the talks are almost done and it appears there is light at the end,” said Mubaiwa.