CHAMPIONS Dynamos will be seeking their second win of the season when they face off with league pacesetters FC Platinum in a potentially explosive Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Rufaro this afternoon.
REPORT BY TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA/SUKOLUHLE MTHETHWA
Second-placed Highlanders are at Mandava against Tripple B as they also seek to close the gap on the leaders.
Dynamos had a slow start to the season after drawing five successive games before collecting maximum points after overcoming lowly Tripple B 2-0 at Mandava on Sunday — their first win the campaign.
Former Caps United striker Washington Pakamisa rescued the champions with his first goal in Dynamos colours in the 19th minute before defender Patson Jaure converted from an indirect free kick to take the defending champions up to seventh position with eight points.
While the Dynamos faithful have every reason to be celebrating after the victory at Mandava, those celebrations could prove temporary as FC Platinum plot to end their winless run against them today.
The Zvishavane-based side is still to defeat Dynamos in the league encounters and this should give them the resolve as the two sides meet for the first time this term.
Tennant Chilumba’s men have lost just once this season and are in buoyant mood after dismissing Premiership debutants Triangle 3-0 at the weekend although they were without top marksman Nelson Maziwisa and defender Kelvin Moyo who were on national team duty in Zambia.
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Chilumba and his assistant Tendai Chikuni see the opportunity to stop Dynamos’ dominance over them.
Chikuni said today’s fixture was different. “They have dominated in our encounters, but look this is a different ball game.
We have also been preparing for this match and are ready for Dynamos.
It will be a difficult, but the guys are well prepared for this encounter,” said Chikuni. Dynamos team manager Richard Chihoro also predicted a tough encounter, but maintained the champions were ready to win their second match of the season.
“We are meeting the log leaders and it will be a tough match. They want to maintain their lead at the top, but we are ready for them.
“After our win against Tripple B last week, we now have the confidence to continue winning. We have Devon Chafa and Augustine Mbara back from national duty and everyone is looking forward to the game,” said Chihoro. At Mandava this afternoon, Highlanders will be looking for nothing than a second successive win against Tripple B.
Highlanders have also lost once, but have 13 points with four wins, one loss and one draw. Highlanders, under the guidance of Kelvin Kaindu, and Tripple B clashed in a pre-season friendly early last month at Barbourfields where Highlanders emerged 2-0 winners.
However, Tripple B, who are the underdogs, will also want to use that to their advantage and cause an upset while Highlanders cannot afford a loss. Highlanders assistant coach Bekithemba Ndlovu said they were ready to face the Beitbridge side.
“Our performance this season has been fine. We lost to Motor Action, drew with Dynamos and we beat Black Rhinos, so the team is in the right direction. There is nothing like a small team in the league.
We respect Tripple B and we treat all Premiership teams the same.
“We promise that we will play good football and then we will see at the end of the game which team will have won,” he said. Tripple B coach Friday Phiri said they were hoping to get a good result.
“We want to rise from the ashes after our loss to Dynamos. The match against Highlanders is a high-profile encounter and we need to get a positive result. “We played very well against Dynamos, but we conceded the two goals in the first-half, but the second half was better for us. We need to work on grey areas and be more aggressive,” he said.
Fixtures Today: Shabanie Mine v Hwange (Maglas), Chicken Inn v Caps United (Luveve), Black Mambas v Harare City (Morris Depot), Dynamos v FC Platinum (Rufaro), Triangle v Monomotapa (Gibbo), Tripple B v Highlanders (Mandava).
