Dynamos Interim Coach Apologizes for Poor Team Performance
“I am sorry for this start because we lost again at home. They must keep believing this is Dynamos, better days are coming."
HARARE — Dynamos fans went on a rampage destroying property after their team’s defeat at the hands of FC Platinum on Sunday at the National Sports Stadium, which has left the Glamour Boys second from bottom in the 16-team Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League log. The fans had to be dispersed by riot police after they held their team hostage for about two hours demanding the reinstatement of sacked Portuguese coach Paolo Jorge Silva and the resignation of clubchairman Kenny Mubaiwa. The supporters, who gathered at the main entry gate blocking the team from exiting the stadium, danced and sang various songs, saying Mubaiwa was playing with their minds by reshuffling coaches. The fans made it clear that they wanted an immediate return of Silva, who was given a standing ovation when he entered the stadium before the start of the game, which Dynamos lost 1-0 through a Gift Bello goal. The players left the stadium two hours after the end of the game and had to be escorted out of the ground by riot police who had to be reinforced after those initially present failed to contain the crowd. In the process, the windows of the car of club secretary Webster Chikengezha were smashed after the fans threw stones at him. However, Mubaiwa was lucky as he was not at the stadium. Lloyd Mutasa, who took over from the departed Silva, apologized to the fans for the team’s defeat promising better times ahead although there is no guarantee that he will stay for longer. “I am sorry for this start because we lost again at home. They must keep believing this is Dynamos, better days are coming,” said Mutasa. The defeat saw Dynamos sink to second from the bottom in the 16-team assembly while Kugona Kunenge Kudada have gone top of the table with 16 points from six matches. FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza says he is happy with his guys for winning what he says was a very tough game against an improved Dynamos. “I am happy for the boys. They worked very hard. It was not an easy game,” said Mapeza. Highlanders moved to second position after their 4-1 thrashing of Ngezi Platium while Caps United are third with the same number of points 13 as Highlanders but are down on goal difference. The Green Machine let slip their top of the table position after a 2-1 defeat at How Mine whose coach Kelvin Kaindu says his team deserved the win. “It was good for us to beat a team on top of the log. We responded quite well and its also good that we are scoring goals,” said Kaindu. However, all is not well for Chicken Inn who once again succumbed to another defeat but this time 2-1 to Triangle. Reigning Coach of The Year Joey Antipas was on the Chicken Inn bench for the last time before his departure for South Africa leaving Rahman Gumbo in control. In a friendly match at the Tembisa Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, the Mighty Warriors of Zimbabwe were beaten 1-0 by South Africa’s Banyana Banya through a 61st minute goal from Refiloe Jane. Both teams are preparing for the 2016 Olympic Games which kicks off in August. Zimbabwe are in the same Olympic Games group with Australia, Canada, and Germany.