DYNAMOS were left facing a crisis yesterday afternoon after the plane carrying their delegation aborted landing in Maseru, Lesotho, due to bad weather.
SIMBA RUSHWAYA IN MASERU, LESOTHO
The Zimbabwean football champions’ last delegation was due in Maseru last night. Nine players had arrived earlier.
The champions lock horns with Lesotho Correctional Services (LCS) in the second leg of the preliminary round of the Orange Caf Champions League.
DeMbare carry a healthy 3-0 lead from the first leg which was played at Rufaro Stadium two weeks ago.
Signs of bad things to come started after the champions learnt upon arrival that nine of their players would not make it into the plane which carried the first batch to Maseru.
The nine players who remained in Johannesburg while the whole travelling party departed were Murape Murape, Thomas Magorimbo, Ocean Mushure, George Chigova, Tawanda Muparati, Devon Chafa, Tichaona Mabvura, Gift Bello and Partson Jaure. But the first batch never made it as was planned after the 37-seater aircraft failed to navigate the harsh weather in Maseru and had to return to Johannesburg.
By the time the larger contingent landed in Johannesburg, the players who had remained behind had left for Maseru.
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The team landed at exactly 2pm in Johannesburg and were told by the airline that they would leave at 4pm for their destination.
Away from the madness, gaffer Kalisto Pasuwa said they would be cautious when they play the hosts tomorrow.
“I said to the guys let’s pull a result in Maseru. We have to be positive against our opponents because they will be playing at home. They are a good team and we don’t want to underrate them. We know they will be offensive from the word go. We will try to contain them in the opening minutes and see what happens later,” said Pasuwa.
But team captain Murape was bullish about the prospects of Dynamos going through and promised to crush the Basotho.
He said: “Our chances against this team are very bright even if we will be playing away from home. We expect to score at least three goals and send a message to other teams in the Champions League that we are a force to reckon with. We are going to prevail by a big margin.
“We just have to be composed and score just like we did against Highlanders last week when we netted four goals. The confidence and morale in the team, as you can see, is very high and we are looking beyond LCS. We know they will be attacking us, but we will capitalise on the gaps they will leave behind when they go on the offence.”
Striker Francisco Zekumbawira, an on-loan player from Hwange, said Dynamos would deliver.
“I’m very happy to have joined Dynamos because they are big club and the reception that I got was awesome. I’m under pressure to deliver because my coming to Dynamos took so long and fans will be hoping that I immediately impress. I will try my best to do that.
“Playing in the Champions League for Dynamos will not be a burden for me because I played in the Confederations Cup for Hwange sometime back and African football is not new to me,” said the player.
A first round tie against CA Birzetin of Tunisia or Al Ittihad of Libya awaits Dynamos.
The two North African teams drew 1-1 in the first leg in Tunis two weeks ago and the second leg takes place this evening.
