Zimbabwe Soccer Champions Dynamos Face Tough CAF Game
History is heavily staked against the Zimbabweans as they have struggled to come back from such heavy defeats against north African opposition
HARARE — A moment of truth awaits Zimbabwean soccer champions Dynamos when they take on Bizertin of Tunisia in the CAF Champions League. The Zimbabwe champions have a mountain to climb as they need to overturn a 3-0 deficit following the heavy defeat in the first leg of their first round encounter in Alexandria two weeks ago. History is heavily staked against the Zimbabweans as they have struggled to come back from such heavy defeats against north African opposition and in particular clubs from Tunisia and Egypt. What is even worrying is the fact that dynamos have played 11 games against Tunisian opposition anDynamos have scored only four goals against teams from Tunisia who on their part have scored 16 goals. But still coach Kalisto Pasuwa is hopeful that Dembare will tear the history books to shreds and score the four goals that dynamos need to sail through to the next stage. He said team’s supporters have to be patient and the goals will come. While attack will be the priority, Pasuwa will also have to tighten his defense in the wake that they conceded three goals in only 45 minutes and one goal for Bizertin at Rufaro Sunday will effectively end dynamos’ campaign. The departure of Simba Sithole, and Roderick Mutuma took off Dynamos’ sting in attack but still those available Russell Madamombe, Borban Ziruntusa, Tawanda Muparati, and Francis Zkuwambire will have to produce something out of the ordinary and send dynamos through. Club chairman Keni Mubaiwa said complacency was their biggest downfall in Tunisia adding that Dynamos are more than prepared for the showdown. The club Supremo said their sponsors have promised huge incentives for qualifying to the next round. Dynamos’ elimination by Bizertin will not do any good to the reputation of Zimbabwean club football as none of the country’s teams have managed to reach the mini league stage or the quarter finals in the past two years. Dynamos were in 2011 knocked out in the first round by MC Alger of Algeria and last year were humiliated 7-1 by Esperance of Tunisia to go out in the second round. The last time dynamos were in the mini league stage was way back in 2010 but the club put up a disastrous performance winning only one of their six matches. Last year, FC Platinum, Motor Action, and Hwange were all eliminated in the first round of both the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederations Cup, not a good record for the Zimbabwean game.