DYNAMOS coach Kalisto Pasuwa is sweating over the fitness of his main striker Francesco Zekumbawira who will have to pass a late fitness test to make it into tomorrow’s line-up for their crucial second leg first round Caf Champions League match against CA Bizertin of Tunisia at Rufaro Stadium.
Report by Kevin Mapasure
Already, Dynamos are short of fire-power upfront after the champions failed to sign some of the players that they registered for this competition and only have Farai Mupasiri and Boban Zirintusa as the only other strikers.
But despite the doubts on the forward Pasuwa remains bullish about his team’ s chances of overturning a 3-0 deficit from the first leg, imploring the supporters to come in and help aid the cause.
“We have two players Zekumbawira and Steven Alimenda who will have to pass late fitness tests to make it into Sunday’s game,” said Pasuwa.
“Zekumbawira did not train today (yesterday); he will see the doctor later and we will get advice from the doctors before we make a decision tomorrow (today).
“But we have been working on our shortcomings so that we get the much needed result. We want to thank our sponsors for their continued support and we want to pay them back by progressing to the next round.”
Mbada Diamonds are co-sponsoring the champions for this competition together with BancABC, their principal sponsors.
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Pasuwa said that while it is important for his team to play attacking football, they need to be wary of opening up avenues at the back.
“In the first match things worked for us in the first half, but in the second we crumbled, but we are playing at home and we will have to attack and we also need to defend well because if they score it would be a big setback.”
Captain Murape Murape and club chairman Keni Mubaiwa both said that fans should not read much into the recent draws against Black Mambas and Chicken Inn on the domestic front, but should come and support the team as it attempts a Houdini Act.
Murape said there was a lot of pressure from the media, but the team was focused on the task at hand which they are confident they will complete.
“It will be a difficult game, but we know what we have to do. We play for the biggest club in the country and we know we are expected to produce every week,” said Murape.
“After two games in the league some people are already counting us out, but we know we can get the four goals that we want on Sunday (tomorrow).
“We are appealing to the fans not to put pressure on the players as that will only help in making mistakes. They should just rally behind the team, sing and make the loudest noise. It’s a tough game and we will need all the support that we can get.”
DeMbare will need to be at their attacking best to get the result that will usher them to the next round.
Midfielder Tawanda Muparati has weighed in with the goals recently while Cliff Sekete has hit top form. Both players’ performance will be crucial to their team’s ambitions taking into account how depleted they are upfront.
DeMbare cannot use their other strikers Washington Pakamisa and Patrick Kumbula — both are not registered for this competition.
Listen to Dynamos Press Conference:Kenni Mubaiwa,Kalisto Pasuwa and Murape Murape.
