DeMbare under pressure

PASUWA NATIONALAugustine Hwata Senior Sports Reporter
DYNAMOS coach Callisto Pasuwa hopes that his side will be able to rectify the mistakes noticed in the last two games and avert potential pressure which might creep into their camp when they face Bantu Rovers in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Barbourfields today.
The Zimbabwe football kings have lost their last two matches to ZPC Kariba (1-0) in the league match last weekend and to FC Platinum (3-0 on penalties) in the Independence Cup on Friday.

Today, DeMbare face returnees Bantu Rovers and Pasuwa believes that he should have plugged the loopholes observed in the last matches.

“We should pull up our socks so that we start winning games,” said Pasuwa.

On Friday, Dynamos literally snatched a defeat from a potential victory when they allowed FC Platinum to score 10 minutes into injury-time and force a penalty shoot-out in the Independence Cup final.

Thomas Magorimbo gave Dynamos the lead in the 17th minute but FC Platinum never gave up until they equalised, before winning the cup 3-0 on penalties.

Pasuwa believes that playing away at Barbourfields could lessen pressure after their last two defeats came at their new home at the National Sports Stadium.

Dynamos won their first match of the season by beating How Mine 1-0 at Barbourfields, courtesy of an own goal.

“It’s becoming very difficult for us to win at home. We have played two games now and we should be able to rectify our mistakes so that we start winning games against these so-called small teams,” Pasuwa said.

In the Uhuru Cup, Pasuwa rested the experienced Simba Sithole, Washington Pakamisa and Patrick Khumbula but the trio could be returning to the squad today.

Pasuwa remains very cautious ahead of the clash against Bantu.

“We have got a league match and I think we wanted to rest some of the guys so that we have them against Bantu,” he said.

Dynamos will be praying that Partson Jaure improves on his fitness levels when they travel to Bulawayo today while Pasuwa should be making changes on the left-back position where Tichaona Mabvura was exposed against FC Platinum.

Jaure struggled for match fitness on Friday after having missed most of the pre-season matches because of a ban slapped on him by the PSL disciplinary committee and Pasuwa admits that the Warriors skipper should have to work harder.

“It’s match fitness which is still lacking on Partson and we have to work on him. He is one of those defenders in the team who adds value.”

Dynamos will also be waiting a little longer before they can use striker Roderick Mutuma, who signed a one-year contract last week.

Club secretary Webster Chikengezha yesterday said they will be writing to Zifa tomorrow to seek a reverse international clearance for the self-styled “Prince” from the South Africa Football Association.

“We have engaged him for a year and it’s subject to renewal. On Tuesday, we should be writing to Zifa so that we process his international clearance. Maybe by next week, he could available for selection,” said Chikengezha.

Meanwhile, FC Platinum defender Gift Bello said he does not regret leaving Harare giants Dynamos and has now settled well at the Midlands side where he collected his second medal within a month by lifting the Independence Trophy.

Bello was branded a rebel by the Dynamos executive in February when the diminutive player decided to cross the floor and join his former coach Lloyd Mutasa at the platinum miners.

What hurt DeMbare most was that Bello was one of the players they had registered for this year’s African Champions League before he decided to ditch them.

On Friday, Bello faced his former side Dynamos and had the last laugh when FC Platinum battled from behind to win the Independence Cup at the National Sports Stadium.

Referee Batsirayi Muchenje then added 11 minutes of injury-time in which FC Platinum managed to level the scores when Qaudr Amin scored from the penalty sport with a minute to go.

The match then spilled into the penalty shoot-out where FC Platinum won 3-0 to lift the Uhuru Cup. But then it was Bello who was happy to have won two battles from one front on Friday.

From one end, Bello wanted to win for his club FC Platinum but on another front the defender needed to silence the Dynamos boo-boys.

“It’s very exciting to win the match. We never gave up because we kept on fighting until the last minute. We knew we were going to be rewarded.

“Personally, I felt happy that we defeated my former club. It’s not even a year since I left them and the victory came so soon. So I am very happy,” said Bello.

FC Platinum finished the Uhuru Cup final with 10 men after midfielder Marshal Mudehwe was ferried to the hospital following a tackle by Themba Ndlovu.

By the time Mudehwe was injured, FC Platinum had exhausted their quota of substitutes but Dynamos failed to take advantage of their numerical advantage.

“We tried to push hard and cover for the missing player. I think we should dedicate this win (over Dynamos ) to him because he suffered an injury during the game.

“I did not feel any pressure from the fans and I have now settled well at FC Platinum. This is the second medal for me at FC Platinum after we won the CG Msipa Trophy in the pre-season.

“I’m hoping that I will get more medals at the club,” said Bello who has also worked with Mutasa at Kiglon and Dynamos.

Fixtures
Today: Chicken Inn v FC Platinum ( Luveve), Chiredzi v Highlanders (Chishamiso), Bantu Rovers v Dynamos (Barbourfields, ZPC Kariba v Harare City (Gwanzura)

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