The Dynamos leadership has called on club supporters to be patient with coach Lloyd Mutasa after Sunday’s defeat to Blue Ribbon left them trailing leaders Motor Action by seven points in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.
A militant section of the team’s supporters had running battles with the police at Rufaro after Dynamos’ pathetic showing which saw them floored by a Tineyi Chitora double from the penalty spot.
The police had to escort the Dynamos team bus out of the stadium as the situation threatened to go out of hand.
The supporters, who have clearly run out of patience, had earlier on mobbed Caps United coach Moses Chunga’s car as he tried to negotiate his way out of the stadium, pleading with him to return and take over the hot seat.
Yesterday the supporters also went ballistic on the club’s profile page on the social network Facebook, calling for Mutasa’s immediate sacking. The radicals even suggested boycotting the team’s next assignment against perennial rivals Caps United set for Sunday.
A small section of the supporters however feel Mutasa needs to be given more time.
They argue that Mutasa came in when there was virtually no team to talk about as the bulk of the players had deserted the club but he managed to persuade players to join him, hence he should continue with his rebuilding exercise.
Club chairman Farai Munetsi on Monday admitted to NewsDay Sport that Mutasa had been working under difficult circumstances and said although the results were not coming as expected, the executive was still behind the coach.
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Munetsi said the club, who have been buoyed by a lucrative deal they signed with BancABC last Friday, will look to bolster the squad in the July transfer window.
BancABC last week poured $100 000 into Dynamos which will be channelled towards the welfare of the players. Highlanders also got a similar package from the bank.
“We were very unfortunate to lose to Blue Ribbon because we could have moved to position four on the log, it was a bad setback. There is no need to point fingers at each other at the moment, but we need to support the team, and that includes coach Lloyd Mutasa,” said Munetsi.
“He is still rebuilding the team and we have instructed him to identify the departments he thinks need reinforcements. There is no need to press the panic button as yet, even Caps United are going through the same difficult time, it’s just a passing phase.
“Mutasa needs the support of everyone including the fans. Remember we have a big game coming on Sunday against Caps United and we cannot afford any distractions. The next three games will be very crucial for the team,” added Munetsi.
Dynamos’ next fixture is against Caps United before a double header against Chicken Inn.
If provided with the cash to spend in the July-August transfer window, there is no doubt Mutasa will consider buying strikers, a department which has proved to be the weakest link in the team.
While the team’s main strikers Rodrick Mutuma and Patrick Khumbula have shown a lot of potential, the Dynamos stage is proving to be too big for the duo who were plucked from Division One last season.
After Sunday’s defeat, Dynamos are sixth on the log, and they now trail leaders Motor Action by seven points.
FC Platinum, who beat Hwange 1-0 to record a second win on the trot, also have 26 points and only trail log leaders by virtue of goal difference.
Highlanders maintained pressure on the top two teams following their 3-0 thrashing of Zimbabwe Saints in the Bulawayo derby on Sunday.
The Mkhuphali Masuku-coached club have 23 points, a single point above city rivals Chicken Inn, who are fourth.
At the basement, Shooting Stars continue to struggle and were handed their 10th defeat of the season by Shabanie Mine.
Second–from–bottom Black Mambas also continue to sing the blues as they fell 1-0 to an equally struggling Gunners.
Gunners are third from the bottom with 11 points while Shabanie Mine complete the list of the teams that are languishing in the relegation zone.
