DYNAMOS coach, Lloyd Mutasa quivered as his team conceded a second goal at the tailend of the match against Border Strikers a fortnight ago, which ended 2-1 and he understandably threw his hands into the air as a sign of enragement.
BY JOHN MOKWETSI
This was his fifth match without a win and a bitter defeat to everyone’s punching bag in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL).
The first goal was blamed on the team’s trusted goalkeeper, Tatenda Mukuruva.
When the second came, nobody bothered to blame anyone in an afternoon that cemented the notion that this team had become as ordinary as their conquerors on the day.
His “discovery”, Denver Mukamba, had only been involved in the corner kick that led to Dynamos’ only goal, scored by Masimba Mambare.
Within 10 minutes of his introduction from the bench, Mukamba had started showing signs of tiredness.
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Mukamba, it is said by those in the corridors of power at the Harare giants and privy to the technical bench, has disappointed Mutasa, given that he brought him to Dynamos in his first stint as a coach five years ago and gave him a name. It was that name that took him to South Africa for a forgettable stint, where tales of his unprofessionalism linger to this day. He was to return to Dynamos this year.
In September of 2011, Mukamba’s stock on the football market had risen to astronomical levels after he dazzled in the match against MC Alger of Algeria.
He was to cause violence at the National Sports Stadium when he celebrated too close to the Caps United bay in a derby win.
The signs of a destructive genius were evident and the Dynamos supporters loved him, as they had loved another young star before him, Samson Choruwa.
Last Tuesday, amid tight security at the team’s Motor Action Sports Club training ground, Mutasa and assistant Murape Murape, who dropped senior players, among them Rodrick Mutuma, Stephen Alimenda and Mukuruva, for the one-all draw against Bulawayo City last Sunday, initiated a beep test for the players.
A source said: “The abuse of drugs and alcohol among senior players is not a secret. The lack of fitness has been an issue that even supporters have noticed. This has been blamed on the fact that we do not have a fitness trainer, but what people do not know is that abuse of drugs has a say in the players’ performances.”
In that beep test, Mambare was the last man standing. Hard working and willing to take instructions, the rejuvenated winger has been enjoying his time in the sun. Mutuma, on the contrary, was the first to drop out.
The beep test is known as the shuttle run test, or multi stage test. The length of the shuttle is 20 metres and a beep indicates when and how often you run. The beep test provides a good estimate of a person’s maximum oxygen uptake. The beep test is commonly used to test cardio fitness.
Unsuprisingly, Mukamba was one of the players who performed badly in the fitness tests.
On Thursday, club president, Keni Mubaiwa was at the training ground playing team psychologist. He emphasised the need for unity and discipline. He talked about the dangers of drugs and other issues.
On the eve of a tricky tie against Moses Chunga’s Harare City tomorrow at Rufaro Stadium, the seniors have been committed at the training ground.
There has been a different approach to hard work, but nothing has changed in terms of what the coaches now employ as their selection method.
Murape said: “We shall continue introducing new blood and try to blend it with experience. We need players, who are committed to the Dynamos cause. I remember during our time, I would be hurt if I trained and the coach, whether it was Sunday Chidzambwa or David Mandigora, did not commend me after training. I always tried to work hard at training; that spirit is no longer there. We have now revived the junior development programme and have some very good youngsters we have identified. Unfortunately, we could not register them with PSL.”
The Dynamos brand is fast fading into the sunset, making tomorrow’s match all but an ordinary tie.
It is unknown who will make the team, but there is no hiding that a revolution has started at the Harare giants.
