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NewsDay

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Dynamos leave for Tunisia

Sport
Champions Dynamos leave Harare this afternoon for Tunisia for their biggest test yet in the Caf Champions League where they will take on defending Champions Espérance in the first leg of the second round qualifier on Saturday. DeMbare, whose trip is funded by their sponsors BancABC, will travel through South Africa and Germany. Coach Calisto […]

Champions Dynamos leave Harare this afternoon for Tunisia for their biggest test yet in the Caf Champions League where they will take on defending Champions Espérance in the first leg of the second round qualifier on Saturday.

DeMbare, whose trip is funded by their sponsors BancABC, will travel through South Africa and Germany.

Coach Calisto Pasuwa said he was looking at taking with him mentally and physically strong players and would not take risks on Leo Kurauzvione who is struggling for fitness after an ankle injury in the Independence Trophy semi-final against Motor Action.

Also missing is Thomas Magorimbo who has not been training for the past week having excused himself for a wedding at the weekend.

But DeMbare are still sweating on the fitness of the midfield pair of Misheck Makopa and Devon Chafa who both play the anchoring role, but have been included in the travelling squad.

Makopa is struggling with a groin injury and had to be subbed in the league match against Black Mambas in the first half.

“We are closely monitoring the two; Chafa got a minor knock in the game at the weekend but I think both will be fine,” said Pasuwa.

“We are not taking chances; this is a tough match and we needed the strongest players, that’s why you see we have left out Kurauzvione, whose experience would have been useful and Magorimbo who has not trained in almost a week now.”

Dynamos face a tough challenge against Espérance who won both matches in their last meeting in 2010 and won the Cup last year.

The winner of this two-legged affair gets a berth in the money- spinning mini-league phase.

Dynamos got a timely boost with their victory over Mambas on Sunday having suffered a morale-shattering defeat to Monomotapa in a league match as well as the Independence Trophy exit.

Striker Takesure Chinyama showed that while he is prolific in front of goal he can also help create goals with two assists to Denver Mukamba and Rodrick Mutuma.

Mukamba was also full of life on the day, operating from one penalty box to the other while Tawanda Muparati controlled midfield proceedings.

If there is any worry for the coaches it will be the injuries going into a self-motivating fixture which carries so much weight.

A win will always be the target but realistically, if Dynamos can snatch a point and at worst if defeat can be limited to the barest minimum with an away goal, they will have something to fight for in the return match which will be played two weeks after the first.

Squad Washington Arubi, Phillip Nhete, Timire Mabvura, Denver Mukamba, Augustine Mbara, Patson Jaure, Misheck Makopa, Rodrick Mutuma, Gift Bello, George Magariro, David Kutyauripo, Tawanda Muparati, Tichaona Mabvura, Ocean Mushure, Devon Chafa, Murape Murape, Takesure Chinyama and Martin Vengesai