Sports / Soccer
Dembare headache
25 Mar 2018 at 08:37hrs | Views
The Castle lager Premier Soccer league match between Dynamos and Shabanie set for Rufaro this afternoon could not have come at a better time for the Harare side.
Dynamos are likely to play their second league match without Cameroonian Christian Epoupa following an impasse between the player and the club over a $16 000 debt owed to the striker in signing-on fees and allowances.
While three points will be important for the Glamour Boys after last week's defeat to Chicken Inn, the DeMbare executive will have eyes on the turnout and the money raked in from gate-takings so that they have some leverage in negotiations for the return of Epoupa.
According to the player's manager Gilbert Sengwe, Dynamos promised to pay the signing-on fee after every game, but they defaulted one too many times.
The financially troubled Dynamos never anticipated this kind of challenge as they looked to make a killing from the sought-after player during the off-season by slapping a $200 000 price tag on his head.
Nothing materialised in the end, hence the standoff.
Efforts to get a comment from the Dynamos officials were fruitless as club president Keni Mubaiwa referred this reporter to club secretary-general Webster Marechera.
Marechera's mobile phone went unanswered and was unreachable by the time of going to print.
Earlier in the week, assistant coach Biggie Zuze emphasised the need to resolve the problem urgently.
"It's [the situation] affecting him because he wants to play and he wants the issue resolved as quickly as possible," Zuze said.
"We are preparing the [Shabanie] match with him in mind because we are hoping the negotiations will yield positive results."
Zuze will be under pressure to take the club's first set of maximum points in the absence of head coach Lloyd Mutasa who is in Zambia on national team assignment.
Apart from Epoupa, Zuze may also miss striker Tawanda Macheke, who was racing against time to be fit for today's match, while Peace Makaha, Emmanuel Mandiranga and Marvelous Mukumba are out of the tie.
Shabanie have always found the going tough against the Harare giants and have not won a league match between the two teams in the last 14 matches dating back to 2006.
The Zvishavane-based side are buoyed by the fact that they kicked off the season with a one-nil victory at home to Triangle last week.
In other matches to be played in Harare, Madinda Ndlovu's youthful Highlanders team will look to make it two out of two as they visit newcomers Herentals at the National Sports Stadium this afternoon.
Herentals had a baptism of fire last week, losing 2-0 to Ngezi Platinum in their first ever appearance in the top-flight league.
The Students seemed intent to help their 44-year-old owner Innocent Benza make history by becoming the oldest player in the premier league than to win the match.
Another start for the lethargic Benza could mean a stroll in the park for Highlanders.
In Bulawayo, Bulawayo City welcome CAPS United while Ngezi Platinum make the long trip to Triangle.
Dynamos are likely to play their second league match without Cameroonian Christian Epoupa following an impasse between the player and the club over a $16 000 debt owed to the striker in signing-on fees and allowances.
While three points will be important for the Glamour Boys after last week's defeat to Chicken Inn, the DeMbare executive will have eyes on the turnout and the money raked in from gate-takings so that they have some leverage in negotiations for the return of Epoupa.
According to the player's manager Gilbert Sengwe, Dynamos promised to pay the signing-on fee after every game, but they defaulted one too many times.
The financially troubled Dynamos never anticipated this kind of challenge as they looked to make a killing from the sought-after player during the off-season by slapping a $200 000 price tag on his head.
Nothing materialised in the end, hence the standoff.
Efforts to get a comment from the Dynamos officials were fruitless as club president Keni Mubaiwa referred this reporter to club secretary-general Webster Marechera.
Marechera's mobile phone went unanswered and was unreachable by the time of going to print.
Earlier in the week, assistant coach Biggie Zuze emphasised the need to resolve the problem urgently.
"It's [the situation] affecting him because he wants to play and he wants the issue resolved as quickly as possible," Zuze said.
"We are preparing the [Shabanie] match with him in mind because we are hoping the negotiations will yield positive results."
Zuze will be under pressure to take the club's first set of maximum points in the absence of head coach Lloyd Mutasa who is in Zambia on national team assignment.
Apart from Epoupa, Zuze may also miss striker Tawanda Macheke, who was racing against time to be fit for today's match, while Peace Makaha, Emmanuel Mandiranga and Marvelous Mukumba are out of the tie.
Shabanie have always found the going tough against the Harare giants and have not won a league match between the two teams in the last 14 matches dating back to 2006.
The Zvishavane-based side are buoyed by the fact that they kicked off the season with a one-nil victory at home to Triangle last week.
In other matches to be played in Harare, Madinda Ndlovu's youthful Highlanders team will look to make it two out of two as they visit newcomers Herentals at the National Sports Stadium this afternoon.
Herentals had a baptism of fire last week, losing 2-0 to Ngezi Platinum in their first ever appearance in the top-flight league.
The Students seemed intent to help their 44-year-old owner Innocent Benza make history by becoming the oldest player in the premier league than to win the match.
Another start for the lethargic Benza could mean a stroll in the park for Highlanders.
In Bulawayo, Bulawayo City welcome CAPS United while Ngezi Platinum make the long trip to Triangle.
Source - online
