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Sports Reporter
Dynamos yesterday paraded a united front when the club’s executive threw their weight behind Portuguese coach Paulo Jorge Silva and his technical team ahead of the trip to Bulawayo. The Glamour Boys face rivals Highlanders in the first leg of this year’s Bob92 zifa Super Cup at Barbourfields tomorrow. Silva and his assistants, Lloyd Mutasa and Gift Muzadzi, appeared jovial at a Press conference that was also attended by all members of the executive led by Kenny Mubaiwa and Webster Chikengezha yesterday.

The Portuguese mentor, who last week hinted on differences with his subordinates, told journalists that all was well in his dressing room as they gear up for the new season. Silva said it was normal that superiors “fight” with their subordinates so that they achieve results.

“Everything is normal every time, nothing bad. Only on some issues here and there but they are football issues. I don’t have any problem with anyone,” said Silva. The 44-year old coach said he will not be distracted on his dream to make Dynamos champions again this year.

He said he is looking for a confidence-boosting win against Highlanders tomorrow as they build up to the new season, which starts in three weeks. “Every time my players are getting better and we have to beat Highlanders. The trip to Malawi gave us more game time and that team (Big Bullets) is good.

“But my team is ready. It’s a process and the players are now starting to appreciate what I want. It’s a process but I am ready to face anyone this season,” said Silva.

Dynamos also unveiled their players yesterday and it looks veteran forward injured Takesure Chinyama’s future with the side remains unclear after he was omitted from the provisional squad.

Chikengezha said they are only registering fully fit players for the first half of the season but this complicates Chinyama’s status as his contract is set to expire at the middle of the season.

Chikengezha said the big forward is still being monitored. Despite Chinyama’s injury blow, Silva said he was happy with his squad although he is still looking forward to boost the attack with foreign players. He said he has to win the title for the club’s passionate supporters.

“These players that you see here, they got to be champions. Nothing is going to stop my players from winning the championship. I respect the other teams but I have seven million (supporters) behind my back.

“We went to Malawi last week and the moment we arrived already our supporters were there to cheer the team. These people deserve respect and the respect that we are going to give is on the pitch and my boys on the pitch are super.

The Portuguese coach, whose coaching credentials have been a subject of media scrutiny, also came clean on his qualifications and revealed he holds a UEFA B Licence.

In a major vote of confidence, Chikengezha said they are satisfied that the coach met their requirements, which was a UEFA B Licence for an overseas coach and CAF A Licence for a local candidate.

“Our major criteria in choosing the coach was to find someone who had a UEFA B Licence. We were not pinning that mainly on his previous work stations. “The primary criteria was that if he was to be a foreign coach he had to have a UEFA B Licence and if local he had to have a CAF A Licence and then wherever he coached was an added advantage.

“Those are the key areas we looked at. So I can tell you the coach that we have has a UEFA B Licence and is currently engaged in training for the UEFA A Licence,” said Chikengezha.

Dynamos provisional squad:

Goalkeepers: T. Mukuruva, T. Mateyaunga, A. Reyners.

Defenders: E. Muroiwa, J. Dzingai, O. Mwerahari, A. Mbara, O. Mushure, G. Murwira, S. Linyama.

Midfielders: S. Alimenda, W. Mukanga, T. Chipunza, D. Mukandi, V. Ndaba, C. Rusere, M. Mambare, B. Amidu.

Strikers: K. Bulaji, R. Mutuma, F. Mupasiri, R. Kawondera

Juniors: P. Makaha, K. Nyakasaka, M. Madhiri, K. Nasama