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Dynamos sweat over injuries

Sport
DYNAMOS have been hit by injuries to key players — dealing a huge blow to their preparations for the preliminary round African Champions League first leg match against Lesotho’s Correctional Services at Rufaro Stadium on Sunday.

DYNAMOS have been hit by injuries to key players — dealing a huge blow to their preparations for the preliminary round African Champions League first leg match against Lesotho’s Correctional Services at Rufaro Stadium on Sunday.

Report by Tawanda Tafirenyika

The champions have been training with a depleted squad after three key players — midfielders Milton Makopa, Sidney Linyama and Russel Madamombe were injured.

The trio is battling to shake off knee injuries and have hardly trained with the rest of the team in the past two weeks.

Madamombe is expected to resume light training tomorrow, but the doctor, has according to team manager Richard Chihoro, said the three players are unfit to play on Sunday.

Chihoro said: “The three players are definitely out of the match against Lesotho Correctional Services this weekend. They are complaining of knee problems and have not been training. We expect Russel to start light training tomorrow (today). But the doctor has told us all of them are unfit to play. It’s a problem because the coaches would have preferred a situation where they have all their players fit to play. We are however, confident that those selected to play will give it all,” said Chihoro.

Dynamos warmed up to their first Champions League game with a morale boosting 2-1 win over old rivals Highlanders in the Bob89 Super Cup first leg match at Barbourfields Stadium last Sunday. Skipper Tawanda Muparati and striker Patrick Khumbula were on target as Dynamos continued their dominance over their bitter rivals.

Two weeks ago, the champions battled to a 0-0 draw against visiting South African outfit Mamelodi Sundowns in a high profile international friendly match.

The results — achieved with an already depleted squad following the departure of strikers Rodreck Mutuma and Simba Sithole to South African Premiership sides Bloemfontein Celtic and SuperSport United respectively — should give coach Kalisto Pasuwa some confidence as he approaches the tricky fixture.

Pasuwa will be hoping for better fortunes in the Champions League after his first attempt last term ended in a disappointing 7-1 defeat on aggregate to Tunisian giants Esperance. However, the Lesotho side, which has made just one appearance in the premier competition will be hoping to force at least a draw ahead of the return leg in Lesotho in two weeks’ time. The Lesotho outfit is expected in the country today.