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STANDING BY THEIR MEN . . . Members of the Bulawayo Chapter of the Dynamos Supporters Association show their support for coach Callisto Pasuwa during their league match against FC Platinum at Mandava on Wednesday

Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
CALLISTO Pasuwa had been reminded that he has a mandate to defend Dynamos’ Castle Lager Premiership crown by the club’s leaders at a crisis meeting held in the capital yesterday.The Harare giants face lowly Tripple B at Rufaro tomorrow hoping to bounce back after a nightmarish run in which they have struggled to impose themselves.

The match comes after the Dynamos executive’s met with the technical team where Pasuwa and his lieutenants were reminded that they had to win the championship again.

The Kenny Mubaiwa-led executive has also requested another meeting today with the players as they brace for the match against the lowly Beitbridge side, which is currently involved in a battle for survival.

Dynamos have lost three of their last four matches, including a Cup game, and that has prompted the executive to step out from the background and convene a critical meeting with the coaches this week.

Despite concerns with the team’s recent lapse, the DeMbare executive however, upheld a vote of confidence in Pasuwa who won back-to-back League and Cup double during his two-year stint.

Pasuwa was given more time to work with the team until the end of the season when his performance shall be reviewed and a decision be made basing on his achievements.

The club’s executive feels that tinkering with the technical side at this stage of the campaign cannot do the team any good as Dynamos are still strongly involved in the championship race despite losing out on the BancABC Sup8r Cup and the Mbada Diamonds Cup.

The management emphasised to Pasuwa’s technical team that they needed to win this year’s league title to ensure that their jobs are secure for next season.

“We had a meeting where we reminded each other that things are not okay. If the teams is not winning it affects everyone. So we need to get things working again,” club chairman Kenny Mubaiwa said.

“The bottom line is that we need to win the league title at all costs. We can’t lose everything. We have lost the Mbada Diamonds Cup and we also could not win the BancABC Sup8r Cup. At least we now need the league title for consolation.

“We are expecting something positive against Tripple B on Sunday to get things back together.”
The Glamour Boys, who dominated the last two seasons under Pasuwa, will need to demonstrate strong character to bounce back after surrendering pole position to Highlanders during the week.

But with the way they have been playing of late, particularly in their last three league games, it cannot be a safe bet to place all the money on them.

The Harare giants, who have not won a match in their last three league outings, are still smarting from a 2-0 defeat at FC Platinum which left their championship aspirations severely dented.

Mubaiwa said they have done all they thought could help the team get the results.
“What is happening is mind-boggling. We have tried to discuss this on personal terms with the coaches and the players and it seems like nobody really understands what’s going on.

“We have done everything we thought could help turn around things but the results are still not changing. So we have proposed a meeting with the players and the technical to exchange ideas. It will be a light-hearted talk, just to share experiences, exchange views and encourage one another because things should not be allowed to go on like this if we are really serious with our objectives,” said Mubaiwa.

Highlanders now lead the race with 44 points while Dynamos are tied on 42 points with FC Platinum and Harare City.  Highlanders have a tricky date against Black Rhinos at Rimuka this afternoon while Harare City will face How Mine at Barbourfields tomorrow.

FC Platinum have an interesting appointment with Gishon Ntini’s unpredictable Triangle at Gibbo tomorrow as the jostling for places at the top continues.

All the top six teams are still in with good chances. But Dynamos have been so out of depth to the extent they struggled badly even against a beleaguered team like Monomotapa in a goalless draw at Rufaro two weeks ago.

They will be hoping for redemption against Tripple B who also need maximum points to help themselves from the relegation zone where they have dropped as firm candidates to face the chop this season alongside bottom team Motor Action.

Tripple B coach Peter Manoti yesterday said the Beitbridge side will be out to cause an upset when they face defending champions.
But with the 4-1 drubbing at the hands of Highlanders during the midweek still ringing in their minds, Manoti stressed the need for caution as his side is going through a difficult period, which has not been made easy by travelling to face the country’s biggest teams in successive games.

“This is one of the important matches that we need to win. I have been telling these guys that they must not give Dynamos too much respect on the field of play. We need to go all out in attack,” said Manoti.

“Our position on the log standings is not good and there isn’t much time to waste. We need to start picking up points consistently since there are only 18 points left to play for.

“But we don’t buy the idea that Dynamos are a side that is down and out, judging by their recent results. As I see it, Dynamos are not playing badly at all but it seems the way they respond to a defeat is very pathetic.

“They still need to learn that they are not invincible.”
Tripple B were promoted to the Premiership this season and it appears they are finding the going tough in their debut season as they currently sit second from the bottom with 19 points from 24 starts.

Manoti was relieved with the return of six of his players who missed the trip to Highlanders because of injuries. Midfielder Max Mavuto, Simon Maengeni,Webster Chingodza, Lloyd Chiwaridzo, Oscar Chove and Philip Makanje, who was serving a suspension, are available for selection.

The last time the two teams played each other, in the Mbada Diamonds Cup, Dynamos struggled to squeeze a lucky 1-0 win.

Fixtures

Today
Chicken Inn v Hwange (Barbourfields), Black Mambas V CAPS United (Morris Depot, SS9)
Tomorrow
Shabanie Mine v Monomotapa (Maglas), How Mine V Harare City (Barbourfields), Buffaloes v Motor Action (Sakubva), Black Rhinos v Highlanders (Rimuka), Triangle United v FC Platinum (Gibbo), Dynamos v Tripple B (Rufaro, SS9)