Mablanyo Pleads for Patience

Philemon Jambaya

Zim Now Editor

Dynamos coach Lloyd Chigowe is feeling the heat as the once-mighty Harare giants languish in 14th position on the Premier League table, a mere two points above the relegation zone. With only one victory in their opening eight matches, punctuated by three losses and four draws, the Glamour Boys' faithful are growing increasingly restless.

The latest setback, a frustrating goalless draw against a struggling Kwekwe United at Rufaro Stadium on Sunday, amplified the supporters' discontent. Kwekwe United, a team grappling with severe financial woes that forced them to hastily assemble a squad for the weekend clash, were seemingly there for the taking. Their recent history includes a player boycott and a 5-0 drubbing, yet they managed to hold Dynamos at bay.

Emotions boiled over at the Vietnam stand, the traditional home of Dynamos' most vocal supporters, as Chigowe approached to acknowledge them after the final whistle. The angry scenes underscored the palpable frustration emanating from the terraces.

Speaking to the media in the aftermath, a visibly under-pressure Chigowe acknowledged the fans' anger but made an impassioned plea for patience. "Like I said before, give them time to settle," Chigowe urged. "Team building is normally a process. It's not an event. I think the performance here vindicates what I'm saying. Unfortunately, we failed to get the goal that mattered. Our opponents ended up delaying. It was like a cup game to them. In a league game, you should play open to get points. But I think they were content to share the points."

Sunday's stalemate marked a concerning fourth consecutive match where Dynamos have failed to find the back of the net. Their paltry two goals in eight outings include a single legitimate strike and an own goal from an opponent, highlighting a glaring deficiency in attack.

A frustrated Chigowe lamented his team's misfortune against Kwekwe United, insisting that the only missing ingredient was a goal. He remains optimistic that his goal-shy charges will soon find their scoring boots. "Sometimes it's a question of psychology. It's a question of confidence. Once these boys hit the net, one of these days, they will tear another team apart. You saw the clear chances that Frank Agyemang got, the header [that hit the crossbar]. You saw Elton Chikona missing a lot of chances. It’s a question of us getting one goal to turn our fortunes around," he asserted.

When questioned about his team's inability to capitalize on Kwekwe United's porous defense, which had conceded a league-worst 13 goals, Chigowe offered a defense of their opponents. "The problem with Kwekwe United is not about ability," he argued. "It is about their financial woes. Before this match, they received a windfall from somewhere, and they were motivated. In Kariba, they had to be persuaded to leave the changing room. They were not interested in playing. But today, their motivation levels were high. They've also drawn against two of the big giants in the league [FC Platinum and Ngezi Platinum Stars]. It tells you that they have pedigree. But they need to put their house in order for them to compete week in, week out at the same level."

Visibly irritated by a query regarding the security of his job, Chigowe offered a pragmatic response. "I accept whatever outcome because that is the nature of the job. You cannot go on and say 'I deserve to continue' when the results are not coming. That's part of the job." When directly asked if he was taking responsibility for the team's dismal start, Chigowe curtly replied, "Well, to cut a long story short, the buck stops with the coach."

Several underlying factors could be contributing to Dynamos' struggles, including reported financial constraints during the player transfer window and general uncertainty stemming from off-field issues. Interestingly, some sections of the Dynamos fanbase appear to recognize these challenges, with reports of supporters mobbing Chigowe's car in a show of solidarity as he left the stadium.

However, the crucial question remains: how much patience will the Dynamos management afford Chigowe and his young squad? While there are no immediate indications of an impending dismissal, the club hierarchy may feel compelled to act if a significant turnaround in results is not forthcoming.

The immediate future presents a daunting challenge for DeMbare, with a tricky midweek away fixture against GreenFuel followed by clashes against Scottland, arch-rivals Caps United, Ngezi Platinum Stars, and Highlanders looming on the horizon.