Motor Action and Dynamos remain optimistic of winning the title despite a costly slump over the weekend which gave FC Platinum a huge advantage as the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League heads for an intriguing climax.
Motor Action has been the worst affected by loss of form as they have picked up a paltry three points from a possible 15. A shock 1-0 defeat to Blue Ribbon last Saturday was the latest obstacle in a series of bad results which saw them falling to Caps United last week and drawing to Chicken Inn, Zimbabwe Saints and FC Platinum in quick succession. The 2-0 defeat to Caps United saw the Mighty Bulls surrender top position to Platinum while Dynamos have taken second position.
Motor Action are on 43 points, two points behind Dynamos, but a massive six shy of log leaders with five games still left to play.
Assistant coach Prince Matore admitted he is worried with his team’s recent loss of form, but remained hopeful a turnaround in fortunes was around the corner. “We have hit a very bumpy road at the wrong time of the season, but I still believe not all has been lost, the battle is still on. We still have 15 points to play for, but for us to defend the title, we need to improve from our previous matches. We have a very capable squad to turn things around and still win the league,” an optimistic Matore told NewsDay Sport.
It is the same story for Dynamos who went down 1-0 to Masvingo at Mucheke Stadium. The Sunday result was Calisto Pasuwa’s first defeat since he took over from Lloyd Mutasa in early August.
But more worrying for Pasuwa was the Masvingo match being his first away game from the capital and ending in a defeat. Since assuming the hot seat at Dynamos, Pasuwa managed to beat Shooting Stars, Shabanie Mine, Zimbabwe Saints, Monomotapa, all played at Dynamos’ favourite hunting ground Rufaro Stadium. The Harare giants also beat Gunners at Lafarge before sending Caps United out of the Mbada Diamonds Cup.
With the team still to travel out of Harare to meet Hwange and then to Mandava to face FC Platinum in their last five games, the Dynamos family should be a worried lot.
However, assistant coach Tonderai Ndiraya said Sunday’s defeat was just a minor blip and had nothing to do with his team playing away from Harare. Instead, Ndiraya said the absence of goalkeeper Washington Arubi and striker Cuthbert Malajila on the doomed mission with the Warriors in Cape Verde, contributed to his side’s demise in Masvingo.
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“It was just a bad day in the office for the team. It had absolutely nothing to do with playing away from Harare. It was the absence of Arubi and Malajila which had a huge effect. The two are a very important part of the team and their absence made a huge difference. “It disturbed the rhythm of the team. There was no communication at the back from the goalkeeper to his defenders and Rodreck struggled without the support of Malajila. “The boy (Mutuma) is still too young and still needs the guidance of an experienced striker. There was also no fighting spirit from the team after we had conceded the early goal,” added Ndiraya.
