Dynamos’ Portuguese coach Paulo Jorge Silva was left a concerned man after his team’s defensive frailties were exposed in their friendly match against a group of out-of-contract players at Hellenic Sports Club yesterday.
BY TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA
The Glamour Boys faced an experienced squad of players, who are looking for clubs to join with the help of the Footballers’ Union of Zimbabwe, who are facilitating their training to keep them in shape.
Most of those players are former Dynamos players, who include forward Edward Sadomba, Guthrie Zhokinyu, Thomas Magorimbo, Benjamin Marere and Brighton Tuwaya.
Goalkeeper Artwell Mukandi and Admire Dzukamanja also played in the match which Dynamos won 7-4.
Dynamos got their goals through Richard Kawondera, Farai Mupasiri, Brett Amidu, Mussa Madhiri, a 17-year-old teenager who scored a brace, Dominic Mukandi and Masimba Mambare, who, according to Silva, scored a spectacular goal.
But the goals have done little to convince the Dynamos gaffer, who remained concerned at the way the team conceded goals.
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The defence featured youthful goalkeeper Tinashe Majadira, Godknows Murwira, Sidney Linyama, Jimmy Dzingai, formerly with Triangle, and Augustine Mbara.
Silva said although the fighting spirit was evident, particularly in attack, he still had a lot of work to do in defence.
“This is my first time seeing the players in a real game situation and I must point out that I am disappointed with the way we conceded goals,” he said.
“In the first 45 minutes, we were leading 2-0, but after five minutes of play in the second half it was 2-2. I was not happy with the defending although we eventually won the match 7-4. I still have a lot of work to do, especially in defence. But offensively, I am happy, the fighting spirit is there, everyone wants to score and I am particularly happy for Mambare, he scored a super goal.”
The Dynamos coach said he was not going to sign any of the players who played against his team, but maintained he would want to add at least two more attacking players from outside the country.
Dynamos, who had won four successive championships, finished second last seasion after they were beaten to the trophy by Chicken Inn.
The failure to win the championship prompted the Dynamos leadership to look for a foreign coach whom they believe can deliver the league title.
