When Lloyd Mutasa looks back at his playing career he will always be able to boast about playing in the final of the Caf Champions League.
However, his reputation as a coach has been tarnished after his Dynamos squad of 2011 suffered the ignominy of crashing out of the Caf Champions League at the first hurdle since the competition was rebranded.
Last Monday, the former Kiglon gaffer also watched helplessly as his side succumbed to rivals Highlanders in the Uhuru Trophy final, a result that broke the team’s five-year dominance over perpetual rivals.
His predecessor Elvis “Chuchu” Chiweshe, an enemy of most fans during his control at the Harare giants, coped easily with the first phases of Africa’s premier competition and easily brushed Bosso last year.
Yet for Mutasa, despite an impressive preseason campaign that saw him collecting three trophies that revolved around entertaining football, he has made history for the wrong reasons.
The defeat to Highlanders amplified the cracks that had been papered by the Gunners and FC Platinum wins last week.
Dynamos chairman Farai Munetsi went to great lengths last week to insist all is well in the camp assuring that the executive is wholly behind the beleaguered coach.
Mutasa and his Dynamos will return to the Premier Soccer League action on Friday hoping to sweep their recent problems far under the carpet when bogey side Hwange visit Rufaro.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
If Dynamos fail to beat the Hwange Colliery-based team alarm bells will surely start to ring loud in the Harare giants’ camp.
The midfield quartet of Denver Mukamba, Archford Gutu, Devon Chafa and Timire Mamvura, are back in the team to improve Dynamos’ fluidity.
The two, Gutu and Mukamba, whose indiscipline equals their obvious talent, have a massive influence in the team and their return should help Mutasa restore confidence and dispel the gloom that threatens to unsettle his side.
However, Hwange who collected all three points in their last visit to Rufaro against DeMbare should prove a genuine threat.
The return of Zambian coach Tenant Chilumba, who had gone for further coaching studies in his native country should instill some confidence in his team as they desperately look for their first win this season.
In other matches lined up for Friday, buoyant Highlanders travel to Lafarge Stadium for a date with 2009 champions Gunners who are also gunning for their first set of three points.
Positioned at 14th on the log standings, Chando Kupisa’s season has been disastrous so far and a rejuvenated Highlanders team should be the last team they would want to meet at the moment.
Monomotapa host Kiglon at Gwanzura Stadium in a mid-table clash while Shabanie Mine welcome cash rich FC Platinum at Maglas Stadium in the Zvishavane derby.
