PREMIERSHIP debutants Dongo Sawmills impressed in their opening two matches, but faces their biggest challenge yet when they visit league champions Dynamos at Rufaro Stadium this afternoon.
BY HENRY MHARA
Dongo proved that they will not be pushovers when they held FC Platinum away to a 2-2 draw, in a match they were flattened by a stoppage time Donald Ngoma equaliser to share the spoils.
Last week, the Rusape-based side almost stole a point against the expensively assembled How Mine, but again conceded a late goal and lost the match 2-1.
Club president Francis Dongo yesterday said he is happy with the way his team has started life in the top flight and believes that the players can cause a major upset this afternoon.
“We are in a transition but to be honest I’m happy with the way we have started. We played brilliantly at FC Platinum and I believe had Platinum not been given a dubious penalty we could have won the match. We also outplayed How Mine and everyone who watched the match would tell that we did not deserve to lose,” said Dongo.
“This time we are going to win. We are going to take three points and it’s not negotiable. The players are geared up for the match and I don’t see any reason why we cannot take all the three points. We played Dynamos in a friendly match and there was nothing to show that they are special so we are going treat them the same way we would have any other PSL club,” he said.
Dongo also believes they have been their own worst enemies in failing to collect maximum points in the previous two matches.
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“We tend to celebrate prematurely and I have spoken to the players about it. The players get overexcited at the end of matches and end up losing concentration, and then concede soft goals. I have told them to celebrate after the match. But they are young and still learning and are ready to correct their mistakes. They have promised to play to the final whistle against Dynamos,” added Dongo.
While the newcomers are oozing with confident, this might not be the right time to face Dynamos who are seemingly firing on all cylinders. The league champions are undefeated in their opening two matches where they smashed Buffaloes 3-0 in their season opener before beating Chapungu 1-0 at Ascot Stadium last weekend.
Also, they would be pressed to win this match to maintain a good momentum going into the Harare Derby against their number one enemy Caps United on Monday.
Defender Augustine Mbara and striker Patrick Kumbula are both available for Dynamos. Mbara missed his team’s trip to Chapungu as he was reportedly on trials at South African Premiership side Wits University.
Kumbula has recovered from a blow to a knee injury sustained against Caps United in the ZNA Charity Shield match three weeks ago. Masimba Mambare started training this week, but remains short of match fitness while striker Anesu Gondo is out long term.
