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Veronica Gwaze Sports Reporter

AFTER failing to pick maximum points against Highlanders in the opening fixture of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League at Barbourfields Stadium last week, Dynamos will be approaching Hwange with a conscious mind.

In what became a sweet return for Highlanders Head Coach Kelvin Kaindu as he put together a 2-1 victory over Dynamos for the first time under his tutelage, the Harare giants were left with some introspecting to do.

Dynamos had started new recruits Valentine Kadonzvo, Temptation Chiwunga, Alexander Mandinyenya, Frederick Ansah Botchway and Nomore Chinyerere although they failed to salvage the day although they looked to be the ones to score first.

And DeMbare head coach Genesis Mangombe feels that Hwange is a strong side whom they need to approach with caution.

The two sides will have to travel more than 330km each for them to meet at Barbourfields, a venue that Dynamos recently adopted as their home, following a venue crisis in the capital.

“Hwange is always a tricky side, we have been working on how they play and exploring ways on how we are going to maneuver especially in the attacking third and pull a setback on them,” said Mangombe.

“We need to start collecting maximum points and looking at our opponent, they collected maximum against Yadah, they will want to maintain that fine run.

“They also have what it takes and the experience on their squad so we need to be prepared for this game and with what we have been doing, I am sure we are ready.”

Hwange, this season roped in the services of experienced Defender Gift Mbweti who marked his return to the Chipangano boys by scoring their winning solitary goal against Yadah.

When the two sides met in the first leg last season at the same venue (Barbourfields), Dynamos collected maximum points after a 1-0 victory.

In the return leg, they shared the spoils in a goalless stalemate at that same venue.

And Mangombe said his side will have to be tactful and creative enough in front of the goal if they are to get past the Colliery side.

However, will have to make do without their trusted forward Elton Chikona who is in camp, set to travel with the national Under-20 squad to Malawi for the Four Nations Tournament.

“We do not want to lose, we do not deserve to lose this game so we need to maximize on this game for us to give hope to our fans, players themselves and also to bring back the confidence in the team,” said Mangombe.

“Last week was not ours, playing against Highlanders is always not easy so whoever plays well on the day wins but that should not mentally affect us because this is a marathon so we should pick ourselves up quickly and focus on what is ahead.

“When we played Highlanders last season, we were playing away from home as well, we had beat them 2-0 in the first half so maybe this time they were more prepared for us, they wanted it more than us but that is football.”

Mangombe feels that Highlanders were aggressive from the onset and this could have mentally disturbed his side.

“They used a strategy of aggression, they were doing crude tackles, some of which if the match official was spot on, would have resulted in one or two red cards for Highlanders.

“The issue of time also cost us, we played 90 minutes and the injury time was only two minutes but of the two, we only played one.

“I do not know why he did so, but maybe he was trying to manage the crowd knowing that if we had scored, there was going to be noise although I feel that he should have looked at both sides and let the better team on the day win fairly.

“We started the season in the deep end, and now we have to challenge ourselves to start collecting points.”