DYNAMOS interim coach Lloyd “Mablanyo” Chigowe has outlined the team’s goal of qualifying to the CAF Confederations Cup group stages as the Harare giants make their overdue return to the African Safari this weekend.
DeMbare, returning to continental football for the first time in a decade, host Zambian side Zesco United at the National Stadium in Gaborone, Botswana, in the preliminary round first leg fixture of the competition tomorrow afternoon.
Kickoff is 3pm.
The Chibuku Super Cup champions were forced to take their home game to a neighbouring country because Zimbabwe does not have a CAF-certified stadium to host international matches.
Chigowe expressed confidence that the team will reach the group stage.
“We will give it our all to get into the mini-league stage of the competition,” he said.
“We must leave sweat and blood on the pitch for us to achieve that objective. It will not be easy but we must dream for us to get to a point. Without a dream, we will not achieve.”
Chigove took over a team that is struggling for results in the league, having won once in their last six matches.
- Wha Wha books Chibuku date with Dembare
- Dynamos back to winning ways
- Acid test for struggling Dynamos
- TIME RUNNING OUT FOR NDIRAYA
Keep Reading
Dynamos will be looking to get their campaign underway with a win ahead of the second leg match away in Zambia next week. The Harare giants face a Zesco side undergoing a rebuilding exercise after parting ways with almost half of their squad from last season.
The Zambian nine-time league champions last month released 10 players at once, and quite a number also joined the exodus, including Zambian international Adrian Chama, who joined Premier League side Yadah.
Zesco players also lack match fitness as their league is yet to start, compared to Dynamos, whose league is in full swing and reaching the final stages.
The winner over the two legs will face either Foresters FC of Seychelles or Orapa United of Botswana in the first qualifying round.
Meanwhile, Ngezi Platinum Stars will make their CAF Champions League bow this afternoon with a tricky clash against AS Maniema of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The platinum miners host the preliminary round fixture at Heroes Stadium in Lusaka, Zambia.
Just like Dynamos, the Takesure Chiragwi-coached side was forced to adopt a stadium away from the comforts of Baobab Stadium.
Chiragwi admitted that playing away from home has its challenge, but he believes the team will overcome.
“It’s a disadvantage for us in terms of the support because had we played the game in Zimbabwe, we could have had all the regions in the country supporting Ngezi because we are representing the country,” the platinum miners coach said.
“But in terms of playing football, we can’t complain because football can be played anywhere. We need to face these kinds of challenges head-on. When we won the league title, we knew we were going to play in the Champions League so the challenges are going a gear up every time.
“Playing at this level makes us grow as a club. Going out there and competing with the best in the biggest club competition in the continent is a dream come true for me a coach and players as well. It’s important for the players to go out there and show their skills.”
Chiragwi told a press conference yesterday that his club holds a huge advantage over their opponents in terms of match fitness as the DRC league is yet to start.
Ngezi Platinum Stars have no injury worries in their camp going into the clash.
