DYNAMOS coach Tonderai Ndiraya, pictured, wants his charges to carry their Chibuku Super Cup form when they begin their Castle Lager Premiership campaign with a clash against Yadah this afternoon at the National Sports Stadium.
The Glamour Boys walk into the National Sports today at the back of impressive Chibuku Super Cup performances where they are now in the semifinals of the country’s most prestigious tournament.
DeMbare progressed to the last four of Chibuku Cup unbeaten in 11 matches having managed seven wins and four draws while scoring 13 times conceding just two times.
Apparently, the two goals they conceded were own goals from young exciting defender Emmanuel Jalai and both came when they played bitter City rivals CAPS United in matches that ended 1-1 draws.
And as they begin their hunt for their first championship since 2014, Ndiraya feels they have a good foundation to build on.
“We are looking forward to a good performance. It will be good to start with a win against Yadah,” Ndiraya told the Daily News on Sunday.
“We have been doing really well in the Chibuku Cup and we want to take it from there when the league starts. Momentum is always massive in football as it breeds confidence. So, we are looking forward to continue on the same path.”
The Premier Soccer League (PSL) was recently granted permission to allow 2 000 fully vaccinated fans to return to the stadiums, after Zifa’s application was approved by Sports ministry.
The last time fans attended local football match was in February 2020 when FC Platinum prevailed 2-0 over Highlanders courtesy of a Silas Songani double in the Castle Challenge Cup at Barbourfields Stadium.
Last weekend’s Chibuku Super Cup quarterfinals marked the first time that fans returned to the stadiums in almost two years. The PSL slashed gate-charges to US$10 after fans boycotted last weekend’s Chibuku Super Cup quarterfinal matches at Baobab Stadium.
The PSL had pegged the cheapest ticket at US$20 and US$50 for the VIP or the Zimbabwe dollar equivalent, at the interbank rate.
Their decision backfired after only a handful of fans paid to watch the four quarterfinals matches which saw Ngezi Platinum Stars, FC Platinum, Cranborne Bullets and Dynamos progress to the semifinals of the tournament.
And Ndiraya hopes the revised fees will enable their fans to turn up in their numbers and rally behind the team.
“We are very excited to have them back and we hope their support will continue to push the team to win more games,” Ndiraya said.
Dynamos executive member responsible for marketing and communications Tinashe Farawo concurred with Ndiraya saying: “We are encouraging our fans to come in their large numbers and cheer up their team.
“It’s time for us to show our sponsors what the team had been doing. We are hoping that Dynamos fans will come because the team has been playing superb football.
‘‘The team is playing good football and I hope the fans will come to support.
Fixtures
Today: Dynamos v Yadah (National Sports), Bulawayo Chiefs v Triangle (Luveve), Manica Diamonds v Whawha (Sakubva)
by GERALD MUTSVAIRO
