Dynamos coach, Lloyd Mutasa yesterday put his boozing stars under rigorous tests, as he prepares the team for the Harare City challenge at the weekend.
BY TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA
It was a full house yesterday, as all the Dynamos senior players — dropped from Sunday’s match —pitched up on the first day of this week’s training.
Midfielder Denver Mukamba and striker Rodreck Mutuma, who were among those dropped from the squad for the match against Bulawayo City on Sunday, fared badly in the test, but captain Stephen Alimenda and goalkeeper Tatenda Mukuruva did well.
The players were dropped from the squad after accusations of attending training sessions under the influence of alchohol.
In Sunday’s match, which ended in a 1-1 draw, Mutasa preferred younger players ahead of the quartet in a move that took supporters by surprise.
DeMbare have been struggling of late, picking just five points from a possible 18 in their last six matches and that has seen pressure mounting on the coaching department led by Mutasa.
Mutasa has raised his demands from the players conducting a fitness test known as the beep or bleep test, as he seeks to pick the best team for the clash against Harare City.
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Masimba Mambare, who has become a reliable source of goals for the team, as the Glamour Boys’ forward line struggles in front of goal, came first in that test, with Rodreck Mutuma coming last.
Mukamba also fared badly in that test, but Stephen Alimenda emerged one of the top performers.
Mutasa might have been impressed by the attitude of the players, which insiders said had improved, with all of them working hard to try and earn their way back into the team. However, Alimenda still risks losing the captain’s armband.
Mutasa took a huge gamble on Sunday when he axed several senior players following alleged reports of alcohol abuse, which saw the team crushing to a shock 2-1 defeat to lowly Border Strikers.
Mutasa told reporters after the draw against Bulawayo City that his team selection was based on merit.
He said he picks up his team based on their performance at training.
“People play on merit. We train everyday and the way we train is the way we play. The players that played today were the ones ready to play. The youngsters; I thought they did well, but we will have to go back to the drawing board.”
