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Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
TAKESURE Chinyama may not be part of the Dynamos’ squad for this year’s campaign but the Glamour Boys have no plans to discard him yet with revelations that the club wants to rope the injury-prone forward into the technical structures to train their strikers.

Chinyama has been dropped from the Glamour Boys provisional squad which was unveiled last week on the grounds that he needed first to be certified fit by the medical team after suffering recurring injuries during the pre-season.

DeMbare president Kenny Mubaiwa yesterday revealed that the Glamour Boys are keen to have Chinyama double as player/assistant coach since his career was now approaching the twilight because of age and the injuries.

Chinyama has not trained for the last two weeks and is believed to have sneaked out to Namibia on an undisclosed mission. There are also reports linking him with DeMbare’s biggest rivals, Highlanders.

Mubaiwa said the technical department has the final decision on the playing personnel but, instead of tossing Chinyama away, they wanted to tap into his expertise and experience to help their strikers become better finishers.

“We have discussed this with Takesure before and we had wanted to sit down with him again to pursue this matter. It’s unfortunate he is nowhere to be found at the moment because we are told he is in Namibia. I don’t know how far true that is.

“But if he agrees to it, the plan is to engage him to stay on as a player/assistant coach. We definitely want such people around because of their experience.

“Takesure has played the game at the highest level and scoring goals in Europe. So we feel he has something to offer if he can stay on as player/assistant coach helping our strikers with the technique and skill he possess.

“That is why we want him to end his career at Dynamos and with that in mind it’s only wise to introduce him to the coaching duties whilst playing out the remainder of his career,” said Mubaiwa.

Chinyama was livid after he was left out of the 26-member provisional squad that was announced last week and has since requested clearance to move on with his career.

His future at the club was no longer secure since his contract is set to expire in June. DeMbare’s new Portuguese coach Paulo Jorge Silva said he will only register players who are fully fit for the first half of the season.

With Chinyama injured and the team struggling in front of goal, DeMbare are still searching for a striker to bolster their attack.

Nigerian Duru Mercy who was on trial at DeMbare for the past week has been turned down after Silva indicated that he is not the type of player he is looking for.

“The coach is saying the boy is good but then he is not the number nine that he wants. He plays behind the strikers yet he wants an outright striker,” said Mubaiwa.

Meanwhile, the Commander ZNA Charities Soccer Shield semi-finals roll into life this weekend with Highlanders squaring off against FC Platinum at Barbourfields on Saturday.

The other semi-final pitting Harare City against ZPC Kariba will be played at Nyamhunga next Sunday since City have a CAF COnfederation Cup assignment this weekend.

This year’s ZNA Charities tournament, for the first time since its introduction, saw eight teams taking part, four from the Northern region and as many from the Southern region as the organisers sought to increase participation of top-flight teams. ZPC Kariba booked themselves a place in the last four after eliminating last year’s runners-up Dynamos with a 1-0 win at Rufaro last month while Harare City dumped CAPS United 4-3 on penalties. The teams had drawn 1-1 in regulation time.

In the Southern Region, holders Highlanders edged city rivals Chicken Inn 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 regulation time stalemate at Barbourfields.

The 2014 winners FC Platinum also progressed courtesy of a 2-1 win over How Mine. ZNA Charities tournament secretary Fabion Chitungo has called on football supporters to come in their numbers to support their teams.

Gate charges for the matches have been pegged at $2 for the rest of the ground, $5 for the Upper Western Stand and $10 for the VIP.

The ZNA Charities has five charitable organisations which are Tsanga Lodge Convalescent Centre, Army Widows and Orphans Benevolent Fund, ZNA Benevolent Fund, ZNA Schools Welfare Trust Fund as well as the ZNA Patients Welfare Fund.

ZNA Charities semi-finals:

Saturday

Highlanders v FC Platinum (Barbourfields)