HARARE - Dynamos coach Calisto Pasuwa, with the Glamour Boys’ poor away record in mind, had urged his team to wrap up their African Champions League tie against AS Vita in the first leg in Harare on Saturday.
A cause of great concern for Pasuwa is that DeMbare have not registered a single win in their last 10 away Champions League fixtures, a run that dates back to 2010.
On Saturday the record 20-times Zimbabwean champions host Congolese outfit Vita in the first leg clash of the first round qualifier at their new home, the National Sports Stadium, a clash Pasuwa believes is the most crucial of the two legs.
“In this first leg we need to score goals because playing away is always difficult. Anything can happen when playing away and the best thing to do is to kill the match at home,” Pasuwa told the Daily News yesterday.
“We want to carry a healthy lead so that we don’t put ourselves under pressure going into the second leg. If we can carry a healthy lead then the better for us.
“I am happy the team is improving with each outing and we are expecting a great game on Saturday. We want to do well this time around in this tournament. We need to remain focused.”
The Glamour Boys, meanwhile, have been boosted by the return to full training of four of their senior players – Masimba Mambare, Murape Murape, Ronald Chitiyo and Tawanda Muparati – who missed last weekend’s friendly match against Buffaloes through injury.
While the four players recovered in time for weekend’s tie, midfielder Walter Mukanga remains sidelined with a groin injury and is now a doubt for the Vita match.
Mukanga, who joined DeMbare from Triangle in January, received plaudits from Pasuwa alongside fellow newcomers Ronald Chitiyo and Masimba Mambare for their role in Dynamos’ preliminary round victory over Mochudi Centre Chiefs of Botswana.
“From the five guys who had knocks from last week’s practice match against DC Academy only Mukanga did not train today (yesterday). The doctors are saying he need maybe two more days,” Pasuwa said.
“Mukanga has acquitted himself well and we would love to have him for the weekend’s game. Ocean Mushure did not train because of a headache but we are expecting him to recover in time and be considered for selection.
Pasuwa also paid tribute to DeMbare goalkeeper George Chigova following the completion of his deal to move to South Africa’s SuperSport United.
The Harare giants agreed to sell the star keeper to the Pretoria-based club for $120 000 and the former Gunners stopper will join Matsatsantsa in July.
“George is a good goalkeeper and the good thing is that age is still on his side. South Africa should not be his final destination; he needs to keep on working hard. With his frame he should be one of those players playing in Europe,” he said.
“The departure of Chigova is definitely a huge blow but life goes on. We wish him all the best. As a club we will have to soldier on. It’s maybe a challenge to Artwell Mukandi. He should step up and fill in that void.”