Dynamos goalkeeper Washington Arubi has urged his teammates to put more pressure on Castle Lager Premiership log leaders FC Platinum with a victory over Hwange at the Colliery on Sunday.
The heavily depleted platinum miners’ side, without four of their influential players in goalkeeper Tafadzwa Dube, captain Zephania Ngodzo, Norman Togara and Charles Sibanda through suspension, face off against Shabanie Mine in a Zvishavane derby at Mandava Stadium on the same day.
On the other hand, Dynamos will make the exhausting 771km to Hwange without the Premier Soccer League top goal scorer Rodrick Mutuma for similar reasons.
Arubi believes a win over a stubborn Hwange side, who have lost only twice at home this season — ironically to FC Platinum and Highlanders — will unsettle the log leaders who have not managed to string positive results in their last few matches.
FC Platinum have picked nine points from a possible 18 in their last games compared to Dynamos’ 15 from the same number of games. The log leaders are 49 points, just one above the Harare giants.
“We have to go to Hwange with one thing in mind and that is to win the match. This is one match we cannot afford to lose. We have been very consistent in the last few games which cannot be said about the other teams FC Platinum and Motor Action. We have to carry on winning to put more pressure on them,” said Arubi.
On Mutuma’s absence from the team, Arubi said: “We would have wanted to have Rodie in the team, but unfortunately he is suspended. But at Dynamos we don’t play as individuals but as a team, so I think team spirit will carry the day. There are other good players who can come in and do the job.”
Dynamos received a timely boost ahead of the clash after a local travel agent, LaChelle Travel and Tours, on Tuesday poured $14 000 into the team’s coffers to cover all the players’ outstanding bonuses.
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“To tell you the truth things were not OK in camp, but after we have been given all our monies, things have been going on very well. Morale is high. We got our money and the onus is now for us to go out there and win our remaining matches starting with Hwange on Sunday,” said Arubi.
Dynamos leave Harare early this morning for the draining journey.
Meanwhile, Highfield United are accusing Dynamos of failing to pay the outstanding loan fee of $6 500 for the services of Arubi and Murape Murape.
The club has already written to the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) and the Premier Soccer League (PSL) to stop Dynamos from using the two players until they pay up.
However, no action has been taken by both Zifa and PSL as Dynamos continue to use the players in the Premier League and cup games. Highfield chairman Zivanai Chiyangwa said they were not at war with the Harare giants, but needed the money as per agreement.
“All we are saying is we need the money to pay our players their salaries and bonuses as the season is coming to an end. They did no pay us after the last home game against Highlanders as per our agreement and we are waiting to hear from them,” he said.
However, Dynamos said they have been meeting their side of the bargain. “When we took over from the old executive, we had an agreement that we would give Highfield Unite $2 000 for every home game and we have been doing just that. But all of a sudden they are saying they want all the $6 500, we don’t even know where that is coming from.
“As far as we are concerned our payments to Highfield United have been above board. They have written us a letter as well as to the PSL, but we have also asked the same PSL to look if we have breached the contract. It’s not much that has been left for us considering that the total loan fee for the two players was $17 200, so honestly I don’t know where all this is coming from,” said Dynamos treasurer Webster Chikengezha.
