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NewsDay

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‘Dynamos not ready’

Sport
Dynamos coach Calisto Pasuwa says he has not heard much about Liga Muçulmana, his opponents in the Caf Champions League first round, but the former Harare giants midfielder admitted his team still has a lot to work on before they engage the crack Mozambican squad. Liga Muçulmana qualified for the first round after beating Tanzania’s […]

Dynamos coach Calisto Pasuwa says he has not heard much about Liga Muçulmana, his opponents in the Caf Champions League first round, but the former Harare giants midfielder admitted his team still has a lot to work on before they engage the crack Mozambican squad.

Liga Muçulmana qualified for the first round after beating Tanzania’s Mafunzo 3-0 in the second leg preliminary round in Maputo on Saturday, to conclude the tie on a 5-0 aggregate score.

Dynamos, on the other hand, sailed through to the first round of the competition without kicking a ball after they were given a bye in the preliminary round.

The Harare giants will travel to Maputo in two weeks’ time for the first round first leg with the reverse fixture set for Harare a fortnight later.

Pasuwa yesterday said he was worried about the opposition. He also said his team’s poor showing in preparatory matches they had played so far was giving him sleepless nights.

Dynamos has played a total of seven matches, losing three, drawing three and winning one, a record far from pleasing by any standards.

The fact that the only team they managed to beat was promoted Quelaton, whom they thrashed 6-0 before falling to Hwange, Motor Action and Gunners, gives a gloomy picture about their outlook this season.

“We still have a lot of areas to work on before the Caf Champions League match,” said Pasuwa after yesterday’s 1-0 defeat to Gunners at Lafarge Stadium.

“I’m most worried with the chances we are failing to convert. We are getting into good positions, but the strikers are not scoring.

“I have not heard much about Liga Muçulmana, but every team that plays in the Champions League is very dangerous. Also remember these Mozambican teams have been giving us problems of late, so we have to be prepared physically and mentally. We have to correct a lot of things before the match. I think the absence of Cuthbert Malajila is starting to be felt now,” added Pasuwa.

Pasuwa has some of the most feared strikers in the land, but it seems they are just failing to click.

Dynamos have in their books last season’s Castle Lager top scorer Rodrick Mutuma, former Poland-based gunman Takesure Chinyama, speedy Martin Vengesai, lanky Tineyi Chitora and Zambian import Derick Kabwe.

But while Pasuwa was blaming his strikers for firing blanks, it seemed the root problem was his immobile midfield.

In yesterday’s match, ageing Leo Kurauzvione and Timire Mamvura struggled to cope with the youthful Gunners’ pace and only improved after the introduction of Tawanda Muparati and Devon Chafa in the second half.

The absence of Archford Gutu, who now plays in Sweden, is also being heavily felt.

The team’s midfield woes have also been compounded by the injury to the lively winger Denver Mukamba.

Pasuwa, who has already selected his probable first eleven for the Liga Muçulmana match, will have the last chance to fine-tune his squad when he engages Motor Action in the NetOne Charity Shield next Sunday. He is hoping his impressive midfielder Mukamba would have recovered by then.