Dembare coach survives axe

Dynamos coach Callisto Pasuwa's job is safe for now, but nothing can be guaranteed if he doesn't turn his team's woeful form around in two big games against Highlanders tomorrow and on Sunday.

There has been mounting pressure in the Glamour Boys camp to turn things around following an indifferent start in defence of their Castle Lager Premiership campaign.

The two-time championship-winning coach was yesterday summoned by the club's executive to explain a spate of poor results after four consecutive draws in their opening matches.

Dynamos were held to a goalless draw by Triangle on Sunday and speculation was rife that the executive would read the riot act in the wake of their lifeless performance.

But chairman Kenny Mubaiwa yesterday told The Herald that the club was not pressing the panic button yet and would review the team's performances after the back-to-back matches against Highlanders.

Pasuwa is now under increasing pressure to get things right when he leads his charges into battle against Bosso in the Independence Cup final tomorrow and again on Sunday in a league clash.

Mubaiwa yesterday insisted Pasuwa's job was still safe.

"We did not discuss anything on firing the coach because we wanted to give him time to explain why the team is not getting good results yet we saw them doing well in pre-season, against the Lesotho team and Highlanders in the Bob '89 Super Cup," said Pasuwa.

"He said what he said and after looking at it we concluded that he had genuine reasons because everyone can see that we lost players during the off-season and that we have many players with injuries.

"It's a bad situation for the team and even if we are to get a coach from out of this world it will also be difficult for him under the current circumstances.

"So we were satisfied by his explanations and he assured us that it is still possible that the team can turn things around.

"But what matters most at this moment is that results are needed to relieve the pressure. We are faced with two important games against Highlanders this week and there has to be an improvement. We will meet again after the two games."

DeMbare are currently in the bottom half of the table with four points from as many games and they trail log leaders FC Platinum by eight points.

The results have left the Dynamos family divided with reports of underhand manoeuvres within the leadership to get the coach replaced.

But some of the members are in a quandary as it appears it is apparently still early for the Harare giants to invoke extreme measures like firing the coach who won them the title twice in the previous two seasons.

This is not the first time that Dynamos made a false start in their campaign and the Glamour Boys attributed it to the loss of players to South Africa.

In 2011, they had four points from the opening four games and recovered and went on to win the title following a good run in the second half of the season when Pasuwa was roped in to replace Lloyd Mutasa.

Mubaiwa said the Glamour Boys have found themselves struggling to rebuild a competitive side at the beginning of each season ever since they started losing players to South Africa.

DeMbare lost four key members from last year's squad, who included influential midfielder Denver Mukamba, Takesure Chinyama, Simba Sithole and Roderick Mutuma.

"The coach said the major reason for the bad results was that we continue to lose players to South Africa.

"For instance, he is saying that he had built his team with players like Roddy (Mutuma) and Simba Sithole in his plans, but they are all gone," said Mubaiwa.

"It's understandable, but he recommended new players and we signed them and still we are not getting the results.

"He also mentioned injuries and it's true we have many players who are not fit at the moment."

The club replaced the departed stars with a number of signings like Francesco Zekumbawira, Clive Kawinga, Boban Zirintusa, Allan Tavarwisa, Byron Madzokere, Washington Pakamisa, Sydney Linyama, Morris Kadzola and Stephen Alimenda.

But the quality of the replacements has been questioned.

This season DeMbare are still to get real value for their money as some of the new players have not stepped up to the expected standards while others are struggling with injuries.

The fans were riled on Sunday as Dynamos appeared clueless against Triangle.

Despite getting the better of the exchanges they still could not take their chances against the league debutants, who appeared happy with the point.