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Dynamos warned

Sport
FORMER Mochudi Centre Chiefs coach Madinda Ndlovu says Dynamos should not expect an easy match in the return leg of the African Champions League.

FORMER Mochudi Centre Chiefs coach Madinda Ndlovu says Dynamos should not expect an easy match in the return leg of the African Champions League despite a comfortable 3-0 win over the Botswana outfit at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday.

TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA

Madinda, who is currently coaching Botswana beMobile Premier League leaders Township Rollers, is a revered coach in that country after lifting the league title twice with Mochudi Centre Chiefs in the last two seasons.

The former Zimbabwe international winger qualified Mochudi Centre Chiefs into this Champions League campaign after winning the league title last season. He, however, fell out with the club hierarchy which saw the two parties going separate ways.

The club then hired Serbian coach Dragojlo Stagnolovic as his replacement.

Ndlovu was at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday as Dynamos dismantled Mochudi Centre Chiefs with three goals in the second half to carry a healthy lead into the second league in Botswana this weekend.

However, while admiting Dynamos had put one foot into the first round of the Champions League following the comprehensive victory, Ndlovu says the Glamour Boys still had a lot of work to do in the return leg.

He said Mochudi Chiefs were a very strong side and that their performance on Sunday was not a true reflection of their potential. He said they were missing some of their regular players and predicted a tough encounter at the weekend.

“Dynamos are one foot into the first round. They play well at home, but they should not expect an easy game in the return leg. Mochudi are a very strong side and did not bring some of their regular players as I can see. I was surprised they didn’t have this attacking mentality. They should have got an away goal.

“But they now have a new coach who has got his own philosophy, but Dynamos still need to work hard. Remember they beat Gaborone United 4-1 here and they lost the return leg 1-0 in Botswana,” said Ndlovu.

The Glamour Boys were under the guidance of Elvis “Chuchu” Chiweshe at the time they lost to Gaborone United and now Kalisto Pasuwa, who has not won an away match in the African Safari since taking over from Lloyd Mutasa, has a challenge to push that dark era into the shade.

Pasuwa has, in the past three seasons, failed to go beyond the second round in the African Safari with campaigns in 2011, 2012 and 2013 all ending on a disappointing note.

Crucially, he has not won all the away matches in the Champions League and the Caf Confederations Cup. He has only managed a 2-2 draw against Liga Muculmana of Mozambique on March 24, 2012. Angolan side Inter Clube edged Dynamos 1-0 on March 15 in 2012.

Tunisian side Esperance also handed his side a humiliating 6-0 defeat on April 24, 2012.

Fellow Tunisian side CA Bizertin also thrashed them 3-0 on March 17 last year. Lesotho Correctional Services had upset them 1-0 in Maseru on March 3 last term.

So with such kind of away run, Pasuwa is a man in trouble. Pasuwa seems to read from a prepared template all the time-that whatever the situation — Murape Murape must play as if to appease certain people.

Playing at home, he had no business in using Tawanda Muparati and the old legs of Stephen Alimenda as defensive links, he needed more men upfront to get more goals. Clearly that team lacks Devon Chafa in that holding hub.

Double scorer Washington Pakamisa started off like this last season and he faded off and hopefully he will last the season this time. Russel Madamombe’s biggest disadvantage is “walking on one leg”; he can’t turn to the right and that gives opponents crucial seconds to recover.

Cliff Sekete, besides tumbling on his own and winning a penalty, did little to help Dynamos’ cause.

The sooner Chafa and Simba Sithole return the better for Pasuwa because the road will be trickier ahead. Oscar Machapa was not at his usual best in the match.

Dynamos will leave for Gaborone either on Thursday or Friday.