Zimpapers Logo

Jorge Paulo Silva

Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
IT appears Dynamos coach Jorge Paulo Silva will have much more to worry about ahead of tomorrow’s Independence Cup semi-final tie against Chicken Inn as the injury situation in his camp is not letting up after Valentine Ndaba became the latest casualty.

Silva is under no illusion of what awaits him and his side at Rufaro tomorrow with memories of the 0-3 away thrashing by the Gamecocks in the opening match of the season still fresh in their minds.

DeMbare have missed their skipper Augustine Mbara in the two matches played so far due to injury.

He was joined on the sidelines last week by fellow defender Elisha Muroiwa and Silva had to call on Obey Mwerahari as the other centreback Jimmy Dzingai is also out injured.

Silva said he can count up to six players he might miss for tomorrow’s tie with one of the goalkeepers Tonderai Mateyaunga also struggling to be fit.

Attacking midfielder Ndaba, who made his first league appearance for the Glamour Boys when he started against Triangle last week, has joined the casualty ward.

The former Highlanders man has not been able to train fully this week with a knock.

“I have some injuries now because we are training hard. I have six boys injured and the doctors say maybe two or three will be fully recovered,” said Silva.

“We didn’t have an ideal pre-season. We played practice games, went to Malawi and trained only one morning there.

“The following day we played a game and the next we were travelling for another game again.

“When we came back we were on the road again to Border Strikers and I tell you this is not pre-season. It’s like we are starting to have our pre-season now and what happens? The boys get injured.

“For me training is the game, we need to win. We make necessary exercises to win but next the body is not ready yet.”

Dynamos will be looking to make progress in the Uhuru Cup to bring some cheer in the Glamour Boys family after the team had made a gloomy start to the 2016 season.

The poor results on the pitch have not been helped by the off-field headlines which have highlighted the discord in the technical team.

Despite the negatives, Silva is still hopeful they can pull a win and has asked the club’s supporters “to root behind the team and give them a little bit of time.”

“The boys are trying but we are missing a little bit of luck. In that first match, Chicken Inn scored three goals but before those goals they had done nothing much.

“Dynamos always play to win I don’t care it’s at home or away. The spirit I want in my players is the winning spirit. We need to go out fighting, like I say with the blood and the heart blue.

“This is why I am asking the supporters to support the team and give us a little bit of time. I know these boys will score,” said Silva.

Chicken Inn will miss their skipper Danny Phiri, Tafadzwa Kutinyu and Moses Demera who have been invited for trials by South Africa Premiership side Golden Arrows.

The Gamecocks are looking positive after making a positive start to the season with two wins in two league games.

The club’s chairman Lifa Ncube said Phiri and his teammates will be in South Africa for a week and are hoping they will impress the Supa Disk side.

“We are not worried about the Independence Cup because we have enough arsenal, I should think. We are happy that our players are attracting the interest of other teams outside our borders,” said Ncube.

The trio is only expected home probably after the Independence Cup final on Monday. Golden Arrows are currently home to their former player Kuda Mahachi who is on loan from Mamelodi Sundowns.

ZIFA announced the gate charges for the matches tomorrow at $3 for the rest of the ground, $5 for the upper grand stand and $10 for the VIP.

The final will take place at the National Sports Stadium on Monday as part of the Independence Day celebrations while losing semi-finalists clash at White City in Bulawayo on the same day.

The final and the third place play-off will be free of charge.

This year’s Uhuru winners are set to walk away US$20 000 richer while the losing finalists get $15 000.

The organisers have also said the third-and-fourth placed teams will receive $10 000 and $5 000.