DYNAMOS coach Kalisto Pasuwa said he was happy with the huge turnout of players at the club’s first pre-season training session yesterday. REPORT BY HENRY MHARA
The league champions began their preparations for the title defence and the Caf Champions League campaign yesterday morning. Twenty-three players attended the club’s training session at Raylton Sports Club.
Nineteen of those present at the training venue are on the list of 25 registered for the Caf Champions League.
But more satisfying for Pasuwa was the attendance by new players who were registered for the African Safari.
Russel Madamombe, Artwell Mukandi, Morris Kadzola, Stephen Alimenda and Sydney Linyama all took part in yesterday’s training. Only Boban Ziruntusa, the Ugandan international and the Hwange pair of Francesco Zikumbawire and Aaron Katebe were absent.Pasuwa said Katebe and Ziruntusa will join the rest of the players today while negotiations for Zikumbawire “are still continuing”.
From last year’s squad, Martin Vengesai, Rodreck Mutuma and Milton Makopa did not attend due to personal problems, but were expected today. Vengesai and Makopa are reported to have signed two-year deals yesterday.
“So far so good. I’m very happy with the turn up of the players today,” said Pasuwa addressing the media after the training session.
“I understand Aaron is in Hwange, but he will be here tomorrow (today). Boban should also be here tomorrow (today) and as for Zikumbawire, we are still negotiating his contract. The big challenge for the new guys is to fit into the culture of the club and to withstand the enormous pressure here at Dynamos. Every game they play would be big and massive,” Pasuwa added.
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Dynamos will start their Champions League campaign in the preliminary stage with a match against little-known Lesotho Correctional Services in February before what appears to be tough first and second round ties.
If they manage to go past the Lesotho test, Pasuwa’s men will face the winner between Club Berzetin of Tunisia and Ettihad of Libya.The task will become even more daunting for Dynamos if they manage to clear the hurdle posed by the two North African giants, as current Caf Champions League Cup holders Al Ahly of Egypt will be next up in the second round.
While admitting that the North Africans posed a great danger in Dynamos’ quest to at least reach the mini-league stage this time around, Pasuwa said Lesotho Correctional Service are equally dangerous.
“There are no more small teams on the continent and before we even look at the North Africans teams we need to concentrate more on this Lesotho team. Locally we have been struggling against these so-called small teams, so to the players and everyone in the Dynamos set-up we have to be very cautious and serious about that.”
The former Dynamos midfielder is eyeing at least three friendly matches before the February date.
“With funds permitting, we would want to play matches against a West African side, another a Southern Africa team and possibly one from the northern region.”
Pasuwa said he was happy with the squad he had assembled but believed the void left by talisman Denver Mukamba who was to join South African side Bidvest Wits, would be hard to fill.
“Denver’s departure is a big blow to us, but this gives an opportunity to the new guys and those who have been here to fill the void that has been left. Denver was a very important player for us last season and would score goals from nothing, but at the end of the day life has to go on.”
The man earmarked to fill into the shoes left by Mukamba is Madamombe. The former Monomotapa winger, however, said he did not want to be compared with the departing midfielder.
“It’s a dream come true for me to play for Dynamos. Today (yesterday) was my first training session and already I’m feeling great about it and looking forward to the next day. I will do my very best. I want to help Dynamos to achieve more glory,” Madamombe said.
Dynamos 25-member Caf Champions League squad: George Chigova, Artwell Mukandi, Tatenda Mukuruva, Patson Jaure, Gift Bello, Ocean Mushure, Thomas Magorimbo, Augustine Mbara, Aaron Katebe, Morris Kadzola, Sydney Linyama, Russel Madamombe, Stephen Alimenda, Francesco Zikumbawire, Boban Ziruntusa, Milton Makopa, Cliff Sekete, Tawanda Muparati, Devon Chafa, Farai Mupasiri, Tichaona Mabvura, Murape Murape, Rodreck Mutuma, Martin Vengesai, Simba Sithole
