BY MUNYARADZI MADZOKERE/COURAGE NYAYA
HARARE giants Dynamos will be looking to claim their first victory over 2015 champions Chicken Inn when the two teams clash in a mouth-watering clash at the National Sports Stadium this afternoon.
DeMbare would have to go back to November 25, 2017 to relive their last league victory over the Joey Antipas coached Gamecocks, a 1-0 win courtesy of an Obey Mwerahari fifth minute strike on the final day of the season.
Since then the two sides have met four times with Chicken Inn winning two while the other two ended in stalemates.
The Glamour Boys have traditionally struggled against the Gamecocks with just four wins in 18 leagues since the latter was promoted into the top flight league.
Currently, Chicken Inn are joint log leaders with Manica Diamonds going into this weekend’s matches with nine points from four matches and Dynamos coach Tonderai Ndiraya is aware of what they are up against.,
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“We are playing former champions, a very good, strong and solid team, which has won its past two games, so we have been preparing with that in mind. We got a good result in our previous game, but this is a new game altogether and we are playing another tough team,” Ndiraya said.
“It’s unfortunate that we have to play two difficult teams in succession, but this is what we have and we are fully preparing for that difficult fixture list. We are also getting confidence that we are playing at home, and hopefully we will have a large crowd on Sunday to come and push the boys,” he added.
After dominating the transfer window in the past two years after they finished a disappointing ninth in the last league competition in 2019, Dynamos are among the favourites to depose FC Platinum, who have dominated local football in recent years.
Ndiraya unleashed new signings Ralph Kawondera, Evans Katema, Keith Murera, Brandon Mpofu, Emmanuel Paga and Issa Sadiki in the goalless draw against FC Platinum last weekend and they all impressed.
Dynamos went into the weekend in seventh place with seven points, same as fourth placed FC Platinum, who had a superior goal difference.
The match will be Dynamos’ first home game in 2022, and Ndiraya expect fans to come in their numbers to watch the new players on show.
Antipas, whose side is brimming with confidence, is hoping that the team can produce a positive result in the blockbuster fixture.
“The boys are in a good space you know when winning games confidence soars. You know we are always trying to improve our game. Mistakes are common in football so we are trying to eradicate mistakes because they prove costly to the team,” he said.
The Gamecocks gaffer has a clean bill of health and a full squad to choose from ahead of today’s big game.
Dynamos will have to be wary of Chicken forwards Brian Muza and new signing Marlvin Hwata, acquired from Cranborne Bullets, who have propelled Chicken Inn to the top echelons of the league with a total of five goals between them.
Muza is third in the race for the golden boot with three goals thus far, one behind leaders Manica Diamonds’ Tichaona Mabvura and Nyasha Chintuli while has two goals so far.