Dembare ready to go shopping

HARARE giants Dynamos yesterday indicated that they want to dump the amateurish approach that has characterised their preparations for the Champions League in the past and will formally engage all the players on their wish-list by the end of this week. 

Dynamos won the league championship by virtue of a superior goal difference over Highlanders and Harare City last week and will be playing in the Champions League again next season.

The Glamour Boys know that they need better personnel next season, after they were exposed on a number of occasions on the domestic front this season, only to be carried by their resilience, and have until the end of this month to submit their list to Caf, with the initial deadline set for December 15.

Despite winning the league championship for the third year in succession under Callisto Pasuwa, the quality of players at the club in the last two seasons has appeared light-weight when it comes to the Champions League.

Team manager Richard Chihoro yesterday said Dynamos were set to streamline their team this week as they could off-load some players while recruiting others on their wish list to reinforce their squad.

Chihoro said the club was targeting to strengthen the midfield and would also give strong emphasis to the strike force, which has been the weakest department in the team throughout the season.

The Dembare technical team has since submitted its list to the executive.

The Glamour Boys are understood to be chasing Obey Mwerahari, Peter "Rio" Moyo, and the FC Platinum duo of Donald Ngoma and Nelson Maziwisa, whose contracts are understood to be running out at the end of the month.

"Today the coaches should be in a position to draw the list of players they would want to retain and those to be off-loaded," said Chihoro.

"There are not going to be many changes.

"We need about four or five players to beef up the squad.

"There are some players who have been short-listed and I am sure by Friday we should have formally approached them."

While most Premiership clubs have given their players a rest in this off-season, Dynamos are actually using the break to assemble a strong squad for the African Safari and will today continue with their training sessions at Zimphos Grounds.

Club secretary-general Webster Chikengezha confirmed they have since received the proposals from the coaches and will work round the clock to secure the players that the technical crew want to bring to their team.

Dembare are facing financial challenges after their sponsors said they would not be able to bankroll their participation in next year's Champions League.

The Dembare executive has pledged to source funds for the team.

"We had a meeting with our technical team and they have also indicated whom they want to beef up the squad.

"Their wish is to maintain the team and there are not going to be wholesale changes, but there are going to be a few additions to strengthen the squad.

"The names have been given to us and we are already working on them.

"Come next week this should be done," said Chikengezha.

Dynamos have performed in fits and starts in the domestic competitions despite retaining the league championship.

The Glamour Boys will need an overhaul to their squad in order to compete with the big teams in the inter-club competitions following a disappointing run in the last three years.

Dembare appeared as push-overs since they have failed to reach the mini-league phase and could not go beyond the first round this year.