DYNAMOS coach Genesis Mangombe wants his side to deliver a statement of intent ahead of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season when it faces last season's title winners Ngezi Platinum Stars in the Castle Challenge Cup match this afternoon.
The match kicks off at 2pm.
Mangombe's side has its sights set on winning the league title this season to end their decade-long championship drought.
They are also looking to avenge last season’s painful collapse in the title race when they started well but eventually finished third on the log standings.
Ngezi Platinum Stars pipped the Harare giants to the domestic league title by nine points, but Mangombe's men bounced back to win the Chibuku Super Cup for the first time in the club’s history after beating the Mhondoro-based side in the final game of the season.
DeMbare's Chibuku Super Cup triumph means the two rivals clash at Baobab Stadium today in the new season’s traditional curtain-raiser.
Mangombe knows today's gloried friendly match offers an opportunity for his team to lay down a marker.
“This match is a first of its kind for Dynamos so we are taking it seriously,” Mangombe said.
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“Since we are coming from pre-season, we are using it to gauge if everyone is ready for the new season. Tactically the boys are ready, they are adapting well to the system and now understand our philosophy on how we want to play."
Dynamos were one of the busiest teams in the player transfer window, bringing in over 10 new players including foreigners Fredrick Botchway from Ghana and former Namibia international striker Sadney UriKhob.
Other notable additions are that of Nomore Chinyerere who signed from FC Platinum and Temptation Chiwunga who was snapped from a South African lower league side.
Mangombe would be looking to assess his new acquisitions in a match situation but hinted that some of his new additions might miss today's match as they are yet to be registered with the league.
“We are finalising some modalities especially on registration of some players. If we get all the players available, it will be good for us. We are waiting for the Premier Soccer League to register some of our guys,” Mangombe said.
He said the game is an early opportunity to show that the team is equipped to end their long league title drought.
Dynamos last won the league championship in 2014.
“I’m sure the players know what our fans are expecting from us this season. We are going to do our best and try to make sure we win. We want to rectify all the grey areas that saw us not winning the league title last season. We want to start the season on a good note.”
The Castle Challenge Cup does not always prove an accurate barometer for what is to come as it showed with FC Platinum last season, but it serves as the perfect appetiser for the new league campaign, which kicks off next week.
While DeMbare has a burning desire to get hands on the league trophy for the first time since 2014, Ngezi Platinum Stars coach Takesure Chiragwi will undoubtedly want to show that last season's league success was not a fluke.
Despite looking formidable, Madamburo have stepped up a level as a result of their shrewd business in the transfer market, where they brought in stars such as Obriel Chirinda, whom they snatched right under Dynamos' noses.
DeMbare claim that the former Bulawayo Chiefs front man signed a contract with them before he was unveiled by Ngezi Platinum Stars days later.
Chirinda’s “controversial” transfer is going to add some intrigue in this clash, especially if Chiragwi decides to throw in the forward into the battle today.
Other notable players that were added to Ngezi Platinum Stars roaster and will be looking to make their debut include Moses Demera, Richard Hachiro, Never Tigere and Talent Chamboko.
It is Ngezi Platinum Stars who have much more to prove than Dynamos after last season, and a win in today's clash can be a boost as they look to continue their success and growth under Chiragwi.
