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Eddie Chikamhi-Senior Sports Reporter

DYNAMOS rookie forward Elton Chikona almost quit the club this year due to mounting frustrations from lack of game time.

Touted as the next big thing in domestic football after winning the Castle Lager Premiership’s Most Promising Player of the Year award last season, the 19-year-old has largely been a miserable version of himself in the current campaign.

The young striker did not see much of the ball in his second season, making three stars and six substitute appearances.

 He was one of the players inexplicably frozen out of the system under previous coach Genesis Mangombe. 

But things could change under interim coach Lloyd Chigowe, who is a fan of young talent and an admirer of the former DeMbare juniors player.  

“We have got Elton Chikona who was Rookie of the Year last year and I don’t think as a teenager we can say he is already finished. There is a lot ahead of him compared to a lot of other older guys,” said Chigowe. 

“Any player needs game time to boost confidence. So, I suppose we gave him limited game time and also we didn’t manage him based on his age. 

“There is a lot of pressure at Dynamos – that we agree – but we need to continue to urge the youngster and give him game time. 

“You know, it got to an extent that at one stage he wanted to quit the club. But I think he is ready, and I think he is one for the future.”

Chikona graduated from DeMbare’s development structures last year. 

He stood out among the league’s debutants, with his composure and goal scoring prowess. Despite playing a limited role in the opening half of the 2023 season, Chikona went on to complete his maiden dance in the topflight on a high after scoring five goals and contributing three assists from his 13 appearances in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.

He put the icing on the cake by scoring one of the two goals that won DeMbare the Chibuku Super Cup title, in a tense final against Ngezi Platinum Stars.

But has barely found the nets this season.

“It hasn’t been that bad, though,” said Chikona. “It’s just that when you’re used to being on your ‘A’ game then a lot of things happen and you’re rarely on the field it doesn’t have the same outcome. 

“I’ve only played upto 13 minutes maximum in all the games I’ve been featured as a sub. I never thought about quitting the game altogether. I had just decided to go somewhere else for a change.

“But now I’m going to do what I can best and try not to disappoint,” Chikona said. His struggles have also been reflective of the whole team, whose top goal scorers Emmanuel Paga and centreback Kelvin Moyo have scored just three goals apiece in 22 rounds of play.

But Chigowe believes things may change for the good, with better management of the players.  

“We have got guys like Alexander Mandinyenya who need to be given confidence. Then we have experienced players like Sadney Uri-Khob and Eli Ilunga. So, we are trying to make sure that those guys will make a combination that can give us results,” said Chigowe.

Dynamos are set to enter a new chapter under Chigowe when they play Simba Bhora at Barbourfields today.

 They were obliged to shift base to Bulawayo since Rufaro is not available because of the preparations for the Defence Forces celebrations set for next Tuesday. 

“Barbourfields is also home because we always have bands of supporters in every province. 

“Actually, Bulawayo supporters are magnificent. They sing from start to finish. Generally, we know Dynamos have got a legion of fans that expect success. They are powder keg material; they can explode any moment if things don’t go the way they expect. So we always aim to do the best we can,” said Chigowe.