Dynamos, ZPC in epic penultimate contest

ZPC Kariba defender Ephraim Mwinga stalking Dynamos forward Simba Sithole during their Castle Lager match.

THE race for the coveted Castle Lager Premier Soccer League enters the penultimate stage as log leaders Dynamos lock horns with title chasing ZPC Kariba to decide the destiny of the league crown at the giant National Sports Stadium on November 8.

Following a vintage 3-2 win over Harare City, ZPC Kariba have publicly declared their intentions of writing their own piece of history, by lifting the title in their debut season in the local premiership. If Dynamos beat the power utility side they will wrap up the title with a match to spare. But a victory or a draw for Saul Chaminuka’s ZPC Kariba means they have to win their ultimate match of the season against CAPS United.

“The championship is within our reach and we are going all out for it now,” said Chaminuka.

“What is left for us is to beat Dynamos in our next match. The boys have been marvellous and they are well able to do it. I am proud of them and I cannot ask for more.”

Dynamos gaffer Kalisto Pasuwa who is on the brink of becoming the first coach to win four consecutive league titles is not taking lightly the challenge that lies ahead. “Every match is now becoming difficult. Teams are now unpredictable because squads have changed since the beginning of the season. We are now just concentrating on our remaining games and we hope to pick up maximum points,” said Pasuwa.

However both teams have to make do without some of their key players who are out injured. Dynamos’ defensive midfielder Stephen Alumenda, Devon Chafa and Walter Mukanga are racing to be fit for Saturday’s match. ZPC Kariba will be missing the services of goalkeeper and captain Tendai Hove while Elvis Meleka is doubtful.

Meanwhile, the club chairman Munyaradzi Nduna who had suspended his deputy Tongai Madakuenda and team manager, Partson Ndabambi for allegedly causing confusion in the club has been forced to lift the suspension following the intervention of the club sponsors.

The Financial Gazette reported three weeks ago that there was a serious rift between the chairman, and the rest of his troops over the welfare of players. Nduna was in the eye of the storm after opinion was split on where the team would camp ahead of ZPC Kariba’s crunch match against Triangle that weekend.

ZESA Holdings, the club’s main sponsors decided to book the team at Jameson Hotel, the three star facility at the heart of Harare, to boost players’ moral at a crunch time in their championship campaign.  But Nduna, had other caustic ideas, insisting on taking the team to the ZIFA Village in Mt Hampden, where players faced the prospects of sleeping on the floor after the Deputy Sherriff had attached the Zimbabwe Football Association’s property at the Village over a debt.

The disagreements sparked a stand-off, with the rest of the team refusing to budge. On October 14, Nduna wrote to Madakuenda and Ndabambi notifying them of their suspension from duty pending disciplinary hearing. “I am advised that there is prima facie evidence against you supporting allegations of causing confusion leading to financial loss for the club. In that you misrepresented facts to the sponsor representatives on the 9th of October 2014 to book at Jameson Hotel while you and the secretary had earlier done paper work which leads the station to book for accommodation and meals at ZIFA Village on the 6th of October.

You are hereby suspended from duty that is doing any business on behalf of ZPC Football Club pending a disciplinary hearing. Your suspension is with effect from 14 October 2014,” part of the suspension letter reads. The situation had become so serious that the sponsors who were clearly not supportive of the chairman’s decision to suspend the two officials felt compelled to act and summoned Nduna for a hearing in Harare on October 20 to explain circumstances leading to the rift.
Sources with intimate knowledge of what transpired in the meeting, told the Financial Gazette that Nduna was told in no uncertain terms to reverse the suspensions.

Nduna, on October 22, 2014, then wrote to Madakuenda and Ndabambi lifting their suspensions. “Please be advised that I have lifted your suspensions effective 21 October 2014. As such you are required to report on duty on 23 October 2014. However, you are advised to strictly adhere to ZPC Kariba Football Club channels of communication and any deviation from this channel will not be entertained.”

There is now a lot of pressure on Nduna with suggestions that his future at the club is uncertain as the company management want him out at the end of the season. His problems with the sponsors were long standing and suggestions are that the sponsors have now lost trust in him.

newsdesk@fingaz.co.zw