News, Sports — By admin on March 29, 2012 3:35 am By Augustine Hwata
HARARE giants Dynamos have been warned of a surprise attack when they get their 2012 Premiership campaign underway with greenhorns Hardbody revealing that they are motivated at playing the champions and are ready for a giant-killing act.
HARARE giants Dynamos have been warned of a surprise attack when they get their 2012 Premiership campaign underwa
The Gweru outfit will visit DeMbare at Rufaro on Sunday for their Premiership debut. Hardbody’s promotion into the top-flight courted controversy off the field last season after they were involved in a protracted boardroom title fight with Tripple B that was tainted by the Centralgate match-fixing scam.
But after being cleared to play in the Premiership, Hardbody have now shifted their focus on making an impact in the top-flight. Although they could have wished for any other opponents than the champions on their debut, Hardbody would have to begin life in the elite league in the toughest of environments — a visit to the intimidating Rufaro.
To their credit, however, the newboys have not retreated into their shell and have instead vowed to upset the applecart and yesterday they stoked the flames ahead of Sunday’s game by declaring that that they actually feel motivated at the prospects of playing and beating Dynamos.
The Glamour Boys have already had a decent warm up to the championship campaign with their squad playing in the Charity Shield, the Bob ’88 Super Cup and the Champions League first round tie against Liga Muculmana of Mozambique. The newboys have also been credited with bringing back Premiership action to Gweru and should have a good number of fans following them on their trip to Rufaro.
Hardbody assistant coach Brighton Muchambo yesterday said while the boardroom battles could have psychologically affected them, the side has put that behind and are focused on the game. “We had a belated entry into the Premiership and our preparations were affected, morally by the boardroom case but we have gone beyond that now,” said Muchambo.
Muchambo, who works with former Hwange, Masvingo United and Shabanie Mine coach Tavaka Gumbo in the technical department, is happy that his side are the under-dogs and have nothing to lose in the game. “We play a passing game and we hope it will be good for us on the day,” he said.
A former Chapungu United goalkeeper, Muchambo is aware that his team might knit some fine passes but fail to win the game if they do not convert chances. “Football is the same. We might play well but without getting the desired results,” said Muchambo.
Hardbody, known as “Watosvorwa”, to their small band of fans, have moulded their squad around most of the players who did duty for the side in the Division One campaign. Former Lancashire Steel and CAPS United midfielder Marlvern Nyakabangwe is the cog of the team that also has Tapiwa and Alick Marime.
Johanne Mangezi and Andrew Chuma were snapped up from Shabanie Mine and could provide the experience at this level. Hardbody will engage Black Mambas in their second Premiership game at Ascot and Muchambo is convinced that it will be their show against DeMbare on Sunday that should set them the tone for this season.
DeMbare coach Callisto Pasuwa will pray that his two-goal hero in Mozambique, Takesure Chinyama will have fully recovered ahead of the match on Sunday. The former Legia Warsaw striker pulled a muscle in Mozambique but by the time he suffered the strain he had opened his Champions League account with a brace that has left Dynamos fancying their chances of advancing to the second round.
Although they may have suffered the Chinyama injury scare, DeMbare still have last year’s Premiership Golden Boot award winner Roderick Mutuma to count on. Tough defender Guthrie Zhokinyi may also have been hit by severe Caf sanctions but he is available once again to bring stability to the Dynamos rearguard and ensure the DeMbare title defence starts on a clean slate.
Meanwhile, another set of newboys, Quelaton, have vowed to give seasoned campaigners Hwange a good run when the two sides clash at the Colliery for their opening 2012 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match tomorrow. Quelaton coach Tulani Sibanda yesterday said he has managed to assemble a good squad, which he hopes will withstand the heat in the Premiership, starting with the game against Chipangano.
“We have managed to come up with a good squad. Basically, we have most of the youngsters who were with us last season and then Prince Ncube who once played for Mwana Africa. “I know that Hwange do not usually lose at the Colliery but we will give our level best to get a positive result,” said Sibanda.
Quelaton won promotion into the Premiership after winning the Zifa Southern Region Division One campaign last year and received a baptism of fire in their opening pre-season friendly as they lost 6-0 to Harare giants Dynamos. Sibanda, however, believes they have worked on some of their weaknesses.
“I will not complain much on the time we had for preparations. We managed to make the best out of the limited time available to us and I think we are now ready for the Premiership,” said Sibanda. Sibanda is taking a rather cautious approach but prays that his side will be able to survive relegation at the end of the season.
Quelaton become the third Premiership side from Bulawayo after Highlanders and Chicken Inn. “We should be using Luveve for most of our home games and here in Bulawayo we draw most of our fans from Mpopoma, Njube and the surrounding areas,” said Sibanda.
Fixtures
Saturday: Black Mambas v FC Platinum (Morris Depot), Motor Action v Harare City (Motor Action Sports Club), Hwange v Quelaton (Colliery), Chicken Inn v Gunners (Luveve)
Sunday: Dynamos v Hardbody (Rufaro), Highlanders v Blue Rangers (BF), Shabanie v CAPS United (Maglas), Buffaloes v Monoz (Sakubva)
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