Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Petros Kausiyo
9 April 2008
Harare — Dynamos coach David Mandigora believes his team's defeat in Maputo was a blessing in disguise as it provided some useful lessons which should come in handy in future Champions League assignments.
The Zimbabwe soccer kings were in Maputo at the weekend for a Champions League first round, second leg clash against Costa do Sol where they went down 0-2.
Dynamos, however, held onto their first leg lead to progress on a 3-2 aggregate win and set up an even tougher second round date against holders Etoile Sportive Sahel of Tunisia. The Harare giants will be at home for the second round, first leg tie against the Tunisians on April 26.
But it is their visit to Mozambique at the weekend which Mandigora felt had given both the Dynamos players and the technical department an insight into what really goes on in the jungles of African football. Mandigora, who returned home with his squad on Monday night, also revealed that their approach to the second leg game had backfired terribly in the searing heat of Maputo.
The Dynamos coach felt his team should have taken a more cautious approach by defending the lead they had taken at Gwanzura two weeks earlier, through Edward Sadomba's first international hat-trick.
"It was a tough time in Maputo, but I must admit that our approach was wrong because we played an open game using the same team from the first leg.
"We didn't play a defensive game and it backfired on us because it was very hot too," Mandigora said.
He added that his team only stabilised defensively when they introduced newboy Brighton Tuwaya into the centre of defence where he partnered the pair of Thomas Sweswe and William Mapfumo.
Tuwaya's introduction for Rueben Mhlanga in the second half meant that Dynamos had to change their formation from a 4-4-2 to a 3-5-2 set-up where Lovemore Mapuya and Sam Mutenheri helped with the defensive duties as wing backs.
Veteran Desmond Maringwa, Justice Majabvi and Benjamin Marere operated as the midfielders while skipper Murape Murape and Sadomba led the attack.
Mandigora said although they were hugely disappointed with the manner in which the Malawian referees handled the game, the match officials were not to blame for the two goals they conceded.
"Costa do Sol scored during the last 10 minutes of the first half, and both their goals were genuine and had nothing to do with the referee.
"I thought we relaxed for their first goal, which came from a header after a cross and we didn't close them down for their second. "When they scored their second goal we decided to change from the 4-4-2 to the 3-5-2 and we brought in Tuwaya as an additional centreback.
"We also created a handful of chances which we could have put away. But after this trip I think the players have learnt a lesson about playing away in Africa and we have also learnt a lesson as coaches on how to approach such games."
Mandigora was not amused with the reception they got from the host team and felt the frustration they endured was in violation of Fifa's call for fair play. "We were frustrated right from the start. We were not even allowed a chance to warm up. In fact, they used all the dirty tricks in the book and the referee did nothing about it.
"When you have the home team kicking balls at our players while they prayed on the goal-line and the referee does nothing about that, you know you are in for a tough time. "I am not normally one to speak ill about referees, but what we saw in Maputo is unhealthy for football because the players also got frustrated when all the decisions, especially in 50-50 situations, went against them.
"For instance, Lazarus Muhoni was booked for no apparent reason just after coming on as a substitute and earlier on, our goalkeeper (Willard Manyatera) was shown the yellow card," Mandigora said. Mandigora also spoke about DeMbare's next assignment against Champions League holders Etoile Sahel, in which the Harare giants would have to make the transcontinental trip to Tunisia for the second leg on the weekend of May 9-11.
The Dynamos coach said he was aware that similar hostile treatment from match officials in Tunis given that history is littered with well-documented cases of biased officiating in favour of North African teams, be it at club or national level. "I think since we got away with it in Maputo, the players now know what to expect whenever we go to play away in Africa and we will keep emphasising to them to remain focused and ignore some of the dirty tricks that could be employed against them." Mandigora believes his team's three Premiership games before their meeting against Etoile Sahel would help them work on the shortcomings that were exposed in the clashes against Costa do Sol. Dynamos, who got their Premiership title defence off with a 1-1 draw against city rivals CAPS United, will return to their domestic duties tomorrow afternoon with a home clash against Lancashire Steel at Gwanzura.
"I think the three league games that we will play between now and 26 April will help us a lot to prepare and think about the match against Etoile. "We only wish Rufaro was available for us especially by the time we play that match," Mandigora said.
Dynamos were back in training at Raylton Sports Club yesterday and while Mandigora's choice is limited at continental level, he has more selection options on the domestic front where he can afford to rotate some of his players.
Dynamos team in Maputo:
W. Manyatera, L. Mapuya, S. Mutenheri, T. Sweswe, W. Mapfumo, D. Maringwa, B. Marere (L. Muhoni), J. Majabvi, M. Murape, E. Sadomba, R. Mhlanga (B. Tuwaya).
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