DYNAMOS coach Kelvin Kaindu is brimming with confidence, insisting the Harare giants will secure their Premier Soccer League status on their own terms following a crucial victory over bitter rivals Caps United in the latest edition of the Harare Derby at Rufaro Stadium on Sunday.
A lone goal from striker Jaison Kasondo early in the second half was enough to seal the massive win, lifting DeMbare out of the immediate danger zone and giving their survival campaign a significant psychological boost.
The victory hauled Dynamos from 17th to 15th position on the log standings, with five games left to play.
They currently occupy the final relegation spot, as four teams are set to be chopped, with bottom-placed Kwekwe United (18th) already condemned to Division One football next season.
Crucially, the three points moved Dynamos onto the same number of points as Caps United (14th) and Triangle (13th), creating a tighter squeeze at the bottom of the table.
For a team that looked destined for the drop just two months ago, Dynamos’ incredible run of five wins and a draw under Kaindu is the reason for the coach’s renewed belief.
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“I think it can only be a miracle, honestly,” the coach, who is also a pastor, admitted following the high-stakes derby.
“Looking at the team, at the position where we were, and also the number of points that we managed to get in the games that we played, I think it can only be God. It can only be a miracle.”
Kaindu noted how the turnaround is also evident in the team’s performance metrics.
“It keeps on building confidence in the team. We were not scoring, I think we had scored six goals from 22 games. But now our scoring rate has improved. We’re also able to keep a clean sheet. And we keep on pushing,” he said.
“With (this) win, that takes us to 32 points, I’m sure we’re slightly closer to most of the teams that are above us.
“We’re a bit of luck, I think, in the next few games. We’re talking about something else.”
With the gap shrinking between the relegation-threatened clubs — Green Fuel is on 31 points and Yadah FC on 29 points — Kaindu’s focus is firmly on what his men can control.
The team’s newfound momentum means they no longer need to look anxiously at results from elsewhere.
“I think from the last five games that are remaining, we don’t want to focus on the results of how the other teams are playing,” the Zambian mentor declared.
“With the momentum that we have, we’d rather survive on our own effort.”
The coach went on to outline an ambitious target for the final stretch of the season.
“And from the last two games, if we are able to pick up four wins from the last games that we are going to play or even go for all the wins, it would be good for us,” he stated.
Dynamos’ next test sees them host title contenders Ngezi Platinum at Rufaro.