WE’VE TO KEEP THE CULTURE . . . Ndiraya rallies DeMbare

NDIRAYAEddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
RETURNING Dynamos assistant coach Tonderai Ndiraya is excited to be back with the Glamour Boys and has declared that the new technical crew will put everything into their work as they look to perpetuate a culture of winning silverware and DeMbare’s dominance.

But that is only if they assemble a side with the right mentality and character to be as dominant a force as they have been in the last four years.

Dynamos have already lost some of the key players they had targeted with the latest being gritty midfielder Danny Phiri.

Phiri’s manager Fortune Chisale was left clutching thin air after the player went behind his back and signed a three-year contract with Chicken Inn.

Chisale, who is based in South Africa, confirmed at the weekend that the midfielder will be staying at the Gamecocks having reportedly been ensnared with a house offer as part of his signing on perks.

Phiri, who had a good CHAN outing with the Warriors last year, was on the radar of a couple of clubs in Southern Africa with Highlanders and Dynamos leading the race in Zimbabwe.

Veteran striker Washington Pakamisa is also a huge doubt for DeMbare amid reports linking him with a move to Mozambique.

Dynamos must also find ways of bringing on board striker Dominic Chungwa from bitter city rivals CAPS United and defender Obey Mwerahari from the team they piped for the championship — ZPC Kariba as both players are not free agents.

The champions are also still to conclude talks with agents representing Tafadzwa Rusike, Roderick Mutuma, Simba Sithole, Devon Chafa and Russell Madamombe.

But Ndiraya, who is returning for another stint in the same capacity in a new coaching department that is headed by David “Yogi” Mandigora and has former Warriors skipper Gift “Umbro” Muzadzi as goalkeepers’ coach, is optimistic the good times will continue to roll at DeMbare.

Mandigora took over from Callisto Pasuwa who led the team on a successful run in the domestic league by winning the Castle Lager Premiership title four times on the trot and several trophies.

Naturally, it would appear a daunting task to inherit such a record but Ndiraya told The Herald that they are looking to take it up from where Pasuwa and his lieutenants left and to take Dynamos to even greater heights.

Team manager Richard Chihoro is the only survivor from the previous technical crew after Pasuwa and his lieutenants Philemon Mutyakureva and Tichaona Diya followed their boss in leaving Dynamos.

Ndiraya who insists he has always been part of the Glamour Boys family because of his history with the club said they are looking to maintain the culture of winning trophies.

“It’s always a good feeling to come back to Dynamos. This is our team, whenever duty calls every former player is always prepared to assist in any way possible. When duty called we were there, ready to take up the challenge.

“It’s going to be a long season and we want to prepare well so that we do well. If we prepare well that means we will have high chances of doing well.

“On the targets, it’s always every coach’s ambition to win titles at Dynamos. It’s a culture of winning things and we are no exception. We also want to do the same. We want to win some cups, that’s our aim.

“There is a good squad and we are just adding a few players and we hope to continue from where the previous coach left. The team has been doing well anyway. So in a way we are aiming at taking the team forward,” said Ndiraya.

With preparations for the new season getting into motion today, Ndiraya said unity was crucial in the DeMbare family.

The former Dynamos midfielder said it was important to work together from supporters to management and also the sponsors.

“To be quite honest the supporters have always assisted the team in winning matches, cups and titles. That should not change. I think they are a very important component of the team. Their support is always valuable so we would want them to continue in the same path and even take their support to new levels.

“Of course the success of the team is also hinged on the sound management by the board and the executive and, without corporate support from the sponsors, it is difficult to achieve what the team achieved in the last four years’’.

Ndiraya paid glowing tribute to the club’s main sponsors, BancABC for helping to bring stability.

“So we expect the same support from BancABC. If you take notice, I think the past four years that we have been having BancABC, that’s when we have won the most cups.

“So their involvement with Dynamos has brought so much success and we appreciate that. We hope they will continue bankrolling the club,” said Ndiraya

The Glamour Boys are expected to start preparations today. The Harare giants, however, will not have an early season unlike in the previous years as they have decided against taking part in the Champions League.

Mandigora and his aides have been mandated to build a stronger team that should be able to play competitively in the next edition of the continental premier club competition following years of failure.

DeMbare have been busy on the market trying to beef up their squad and it appears they have a preference for younger players.

“It’s not like we are going for younger players but we are going for good players. We feel the players that we have brought in are good players who can really do their best for Dynamos.

“I think the right tonic for success is a mixture of youth and experience. We have quite a number of experienced players within our ranks and we thought if we mix those (younger players) with the experience that we have then it will be a very good blend and we will probably get what we are looking for,” said Ndiraya.

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