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YOU ARE WALKING ALONE . . . Dynamos players troop to the dressing rooms after their Harare Derby defeat at the hands of CAPS United at Rufaro on Sunday and the Glamour Boys will be under pressure to deliver a victory at the Colliery tomorrow

Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
DYNAMOS team manager Richard Chihoro believes the Glamour Boys will spring back into the Premiership race and still win the championship despite running into all sorts of problems early in this year’s campaign under Portuguese coach Paulo Jorge Silva.

The Harare giants are under pressure to win at Hwange tomorrow after suffering defeat at the hands of bitter rivals CAPS United in last week’s Harare Derby for the first time in seven years.

Chihoro, the man who has won four league titles with the Harare giants in the last five years, said they are targeting maximum points at the Colliery to get their campaign back on the right track.

“Everything is okay in our camp and we are looking forward to the match.

“We want maximum points in Hwange. So the boys are ready and raring to go,” said Chihoro.

“We might have lost the last match against CAPS United but surely we are not a bad team if you can just look again at the performance in the derby.

“Both teams played very well and I think we were just unlucky to lose.

“So if we can take it up from there, nothing can stop us. I am urging our fans that they should not lose hope because we will get there. We will win the championship. There are only four games played and we should not be panicking.

“We are not to be intimidated by those teams that have gone ahead. Let them lead, I am sure we will cover the ground.”

DeMbare need to bounce back as quickly as possible.

Their coach Silva and his technical team are facing an uncertain future after they were given a three-match ultimatum to collect nine points against Mutare City Rovers, CAPS United and Hwange.

They started well when they won 2-1 in Mutare with goals from Rodreck Mutuma and rookie forward Kudzanayi Nyakasaka.

But the 0-1 defeat to Makepekepe put the coach back in the spotlight as the club’s executive led by Kenny Mubaiwa announced they will sit down and make recommendations after tomorrow’s game.

The Glamour Boys management argue that they had set conditions in Silva’s contract that they will review the team’s performances after the first eight games of the season both in the league and cup competitions.

The failure to win a match in three matches of the ZNA Charities and the Independence Cup forced the leadership to crack the whip.

Silva, however, remains calm as he insists the ultimatum is null and void.

The Portuguese gaffer apparently insists he was told his mandate was to win the championship.

Silva believes there are still more games to be played in the race and is convinced Dynamos have the capacity to reclaim the title this year.

The Glamour Boys will miss the services of midfielder Valentine Ndaba, who is recovering in hospital after he was involved in a road accident last week.

But the majority of the players like goalkeeper Tatenda Mukuruva, Ocean Mushure, Sydney Linyama, Brett Amidu and Mutuma are available.

The coach, however, could be forced to make changes upfront, where youngster Nyakasaka and Mutuma failed to get a breakthrough against CAPS United despite some good chances.

Hwange coach Mebelo Njekwa said the Harare giants should not expect a stroll in the park.

The coal miners have started badly this season after losing three matches and winning one. Their defence has let in the joint highest after conceding nine goals in four matches.

Just like DeMbare, they desperately need to bounce back to winning ways after falling 1-4 to Harare City in their last game.

Njekwa, who took over the reins on interim basis after their coach Nation Dube was banned from football for his alleged role in the Limpopogate saga, blamed Hwange’s poor start to a lack of positive attitude and poor concentration.

He believes the Dynamos game is the right platform for his charges to come to the party.

“We have the same squad that we had last season and I must say maybe the attitude and lack of focus is what has been letting us down and we are busy trying to fix that. If you look at the table, we just need a win to go up.

“We can’t be pressing panic buttons, but we really have to work on our transition from attack to defence.

“Playing Dynamos motivates players and being their bogey team, we’re looking forward to a positive result so that we move up the ladder.

“We know they watched us play against Harare City, but we have worked on our shortcomings. We also watched them and it will be foolish of us to think that they are bringing the same style. We are not reading much into that as we have to make our own plans,” said the coach.

Fixtures

Saturday: Chicken Inn v Bulawayo City (Luveve), Tsholotsho v Ngezi Platinum Stars (White City), FC Platinum v Harare City (Mandava)

Sunday: Mutare City Rovers v How Mine (Sakubva) CAPS United v Border Strikers (National Sports Stadium) Hwange v Dynamos (Colliery), Triangle United v ZPC Kariba (Gibbo), Highlanders v Chapungu (Barbourfields)