Callisto Pasuwa
Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter—
HARARE giants Dynamos are confident of a positive result as they leave for Botswana this morning for the return leg of the Champions League preliminary round soccer tie against Mochudi Centre Chiefs. DeMbare are set to embark on the 17-hour journey by road early this morning and are only expected to arrive in Gaborone just before midnight.
Dynamos coach Callisto Pasuwa and his charges will have at least two days to acclimatise to the conditions in Gaborone ahead of Sunday’s game at the University of Botswana Stadium.
The Glamour Boys carry a healthy 3-0 lead from the first leg that was played at the National Sports Stadium last Sunday and team manager Richard Chihoro told The Herald yesterday that they are aiming to complete their mission with another winning performance.
Chihoro, however, acknowledged that the challenge posed by Chiefs cannot just be wished away as the Botswana side showed they are not mere pushovers earlier on during last Sunday’s encounter.
In fact, DeMbare are preparing to deal with a possible backlash from the Gaborone-based outfit which left Harare aggrieved following a questionable second half penalty they felt made all the difference.
Chiefs were training 1-0 when DeMbare were awarded a hotly-disputed penalty in the 72nd minute.
“We have to be prepared for everything but above all we are going there to play and win and also not forgetting to shut them out at the back. That is our aim. We need 100 percent concentration, even it means playing for 120 minutes,” said Chihoro.
“Chiefs are a good side and the fact that they will be at home this time around may give them extra confidence. It’s only normal that after losing by such a margin they will plan to get the early goals to try and get back in the contest.”
Striker Washington Pakamisa gave Dynamos the edge when he scored a brace, including the contentious penalty that was awarded by the Mozambican referee when Cliff Sekete tumbled inside the box under challenge from countryman Elvis Meleka.
Masimba Mambare added the third goal to ensure DeMbare are well-cushioned ahead of the second leg.
But Pasuwa was the first to admit in the post-match Press conference that his side was not yet at the top of its game as they were playing only their first match following a lengthy off-season spell.
DeMbare missed a number of good scoring chances and were twice denied by the woodwork. They should be really worried about their finishing which needs some touch ups.
However, the technical team had some good news during the midweek with the return of striker Simba Sithole and attacking midfielder Tafadzwa Rusike who sat out of the first leg nursing injuries.
It was not clear though whether the duo will make the travelling squad. Dynamos will be looking to rise above their poor away form in continental assignments which stretches back to the last five years.
Particularly for Pasuwa, DeMbare have never won outside the borders since he took over the reins in 2011.
DeMbare lost 1-0 to Gaborone United the last time they travelled to Botswana in this competition in 2010, but managed to pull through on goal aggregate having won the first leg 4-1 at the National Sports Stadium. Elvis Chiweshe was in charge of the team then.
Chiefs will be hoping to capitalise on this fact and their captain Pontsho Moloi said his side will not give up the fight and vowed to overturn the scoreline in Botswana.
“This is football, things can change in Botswana. If they can score three goals at their backyard we can also do the same at home,” said Moloi.
Magosi, as the outfit is known in the Botswana league, are looking to avoid the disappointment they suffered last year when they fell in preliminary round of the same competition after losing 7-0 on aggregate to TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Their Serbian coach Gragojlo Stanojlovic, who was clearly unhappy with the loss to Dynamos last Sunday, will have to play his cards well.
Mochudi had hoped to be more defensive and minimise the damage in the first leg, but their game plan went awry in the second half after a seemingly successful first half.
They hope the experience will come in handy.