DYNAMOS coach Lloyd Chigowe is set to turn to captain Edward Sadomba as the obvious replacement for in-form striker Ngandu Mangala, whose availability is in serious doubt after he picked up a knock against Mushowani last week.
The Glamour Boys host coalminers Hwange in another tricky encounter against a team coming from Division One at Rufaro this afternoon.
Mangala saved an unconvincing DeMbare the opening day blushes last week with two well taken goals in the second half before limping off with an ankle injury later on.
The Glamour Boys may have celebrated too soon midweek announcing that the striker from the Democratic Republic of Congo was back to full fitness before the player aggravated the injury during Thursday training.
Chigowe was praying for positive news from the medical team on Friday, but the club has remained mum on Mangala’s availability for the Hwange tie.
But the veteran coach celebrated the return of Sadomba to full fitness while expressing confidence that there were capable replacements in the squad.
“The team captain, Edward Sadomba, is back to lead his troops. His availability is a morale booster, he’s the leader of the pack.
“The question mark still hangs over Mangala, but the medical team is going to advise us tomorrow otherwise we have a squad where everybody is prepared to do duty.
“We will take it on from what the medical team says, but definitely we will field a side that will fight for three points,” Chigowe said after Thursday training.
However, the coach’s mobile phone went unanswered the entire day yesterday while the club’s communication officer Tinashe Farawo had no news on Mangala’s availability by the time of going to the press.
Without Mangala, Chigowe has a decision to make on who partners Sadomba upfront between Tawanda Macheke, who supported Mangala well last week, and highly-rated Cameroonian Ngahan Claude Junior.
Junior and compatriot Herve Vincent Mbega missed the opening match of the season last week as their papers were not in order.
The two could make their debuts for Dynamos this afternoon while Sadomba makes an emotional return to the club that gave him fame close to 10 years ago.
Mbega is sure to start in midfield to replace versatile Young Warriors defender Tawanda Chisi, who impressed in the middle of the park last week.
The Dynamos coach is wary of the danger posed by Hwange, boasting of lots of premier league experience, who beat struggling Yadah FC at the colliery last week.
“Hwange are not newcomers to the league. Probably what might have changed is that they could have introduced one or two new players. But Hwange remains Hwange, traditional powerhouses in Zimbabwean football and we will treat them as such. If we put on a good shift and fight, we are good to collect the three points,” he said.
Dynamos will be looking for a positive start to the season and be in a position to compete for the league title after fighting relegation last season.
Castle Lager Premier Soccer League results and fixtures
Yesterday: Ngezi Platinum Stars 2-1 Mushowani Stars, Bulawayo Chiefs 0-1 TelOne, ZPC Kariba 1-0 Herentals, Yadah 0-2 Chicken Inn, FC Platinum 2-1 Triangle United
Today: Highlanders v CAPS United (Barbourfields), Manica Diamonds v Harare City (Gibbo), Dynamos v Hwange (Rufaro), Chapungu v Black Rhinos (Mandava).
-The Standard