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By Augustine Hwata
AFTER getting their pre-season preparations off with a 2-1 win over Motor Action at Rufaro last Sunday, Harare giants Dynamos will this weekend head to Chinhoyi as they intensify their preparations.
The spotlight could fall on Rodrick Mutuma whose brace gave Dynamos the slender win over the Mighty Bulls in the charity match.
The lanky player Mutuma was plucked from Chinhoyi side Township Rangers, but on Saturday he will not be looking at doing any favours for his former team-mates.
Dynamos might have eased the nerves of their restless supporters when they beat the league champions but Lloyd Mutasa is not resting his troops and he takes them to Chinhoyi for a friendly against a Chinhoyi Select on Saturday.
Dynamos secretary Oliver Manyau said they were now stepping up their preparations.
“We are going to play a Chinhoyi Select this Saturday and next Saturday, we should be going to Mutare to play Blue Ribbon,” said Manyau.
He said the pre-season games were meant to give a hint to their coach Lloyd Mutasa on the personnel at his disposal this season.
Mutasa’s entry at Dynamos has been characterised by the movement of key players from the club who had been earmarked for the African Champions League campaign.
Former skipper Murape Murape has dumped the Harare giants for the Division One franchise of Highfield United along with goalkeeper Washington Arubi and winger Benjamin Marere.
Midfielder Thabani Kamusoko has agreed terms with FC Platinum with Evans Gwekwerere now training with CAPS United.
Arubi and Murape appear ready to continue their romance with Dynamos, especially for the Champions League.  
However, it is understood that Highfield United have written a letter to Dynamos threatening to cancel the deal to loan the two players over some outstanding payments still owed from Dynamos.
Arubi is away with the national team on CHAN assignments in Sudan while Murape is yet to report for training and did not feature in Sunday’s game against Motor Action.
“Basically the team is there. The players who featured on Sunday are likely to form the team with the addition of those at CHAN.
“There are some loose ends we are still trying to tie up,” said Manyau.
He said Dynamos were being inundated with calls from teams interested in engaging them in pre-season matches.
The match in Chinhoyi is being co-ordinated by Derick Matapuri who said the bulk of their players are likely to come from Township Rangers.
“What is happening is that Dynamos are making preparations for the new season and we have invited them to come and play here as they have been doing over the years.
“This is also an opportunity for the residents of Chinhoyi to watch the Premiership giants.
“Instead of Dynamos playing just one team from Chinhoyi, we have decided to field a select side whereby players from different teams have a chance to play at the higher level.
“It’s going to be exciting in that we will welcome Mutuma who was playing for Township Rangers last year.
“We hope his presence in Dynamos colours will help to inspire some of the players still in Chinhoyi,” said Matapuri.
Township Rangers coach White Makiwa will take charge of the Chinhoyi Select and will be assisted by former Dynamos player Pearson Matare.
Matare is now coach of Chinhoyi Division Two side Stockbay.
“The players will be drawn mainly from Township Rangers who finished third in Division One last season while players like Tineyi Chitora, who finished as the top goalscorer for Blue Ribbon, will also play for the select.
“Chitora comes from Chinhoyi and we are hoping players like Lucky Makura, who had a stint at Black Rhinos, will also return home to beef up the local select,” said Matupira.