Langton Nyakwenda
A decade ago, Dynamos proved there was a huge gulf in class between Zimbabwean football and the Botswana game.
The Glamour Boys walloped Centre Chiefs of Gaborone 4-1 on aggregate in a Caf Champions League preliminary round tie in February 2014.
DeMbare won 3-0 in Harare on February 9, 2004, before holding Centre Chiefs 1-1 in the return leg a week later.
Four years earlier, Dynamos had also dealt with Gaborone United.
They hammered the Motswana side 4-1 in Harare on April 25, 2010, before losing 0-1 in the reverse fixture at the University of Botswana Stadium.
But, football in Botswana has been improving, albeit gradually.
That steady improvement has also been partly due to the arrival of Zimbabwean coaches.
Orapa United
Madinda Ndlovu, Rahman Gumbo (late), Willard Khumalo (late), Mandla Mpofu, Philani “Beefy” Ncube, Taurai Mangwiro, Luke Masomere, Roy Barreto, Max Moyo, Bongani Mafu, Clever Hunda and Shepherd Murape are some of the Zimbabwean coaches who have coached or are still coaching in the Botswana Premier League.
Quiet a significant number of Zimbabwean players including Warriors winger Daniel Msendami, ex-Highlanders skipper Nqobizitha Masuku, Wilfred Muvirimi, Tinashe Balakasi and Kelvin Bingala, have also featured in that league.
Coincidentally, Botswana has become Dynamos’ new home in their latest campaign in the Caf Confederation Cup.
They beat Zesco United of Zambia 1-0 in a preliminary round first leg fixture at the Botswana National Stadium on August 18 before playing out a goalless draw in the reverse fixture in Ndola.
DeMbare are back in Botswana again.
They play Orapa United in the first leg of a second preliminary round fixture in Francistown this afternoon.
Kick off is 4pm.
DeMbare will play host to the Motswana side in the return leg at the same venue next weekend.
Zesco United of Zambia
If Dynamos sail past Orapa United they will book a berth in the lucrative knock-out stage.
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Interim coach, Lloyd Chigowe acknowledges it will not be easy against Orapa United but he is confident the Zimbabwean giants can progress.
“Naturally, like any other team going into a knock-out stage we aim to go past them. It is not going to be easy because Orapa United are not at this stage of the tournament by invitation,” said Chigowe.
Orapa United knocked out Foresters of Seychelles in the first preliminary round.
They drew 1-1 in Saint Pierre before winning 2-0 at home.
They scored three goals in that tie.
But scoring has been a problem at Dynamos.
They scored once against Zesco of Zambia.
They are also fresh from a goalless draw against local side TelOne.
Chigowe is worried with the trend.
“All the matches we played after the Zesco encounter were in preparation for the decisive matches against Orapa United,” said Chigowe.
The veteran gaffer says he is devising a system that allows goals to flow from all angles and not rely solely on strikers.
Their strikers Alexander Mandinyenya, Sadyney Urikhob, Emmanuel Paga, Elton Chikona and Eli Ilunga have been struggling.
Against Zesco, DeMbare got their goal from central midfielder Tanaka Shandirwa, who is back in the fold after missing the last two matches against ZPC Kariba (Chibuku Super Cup) and TelOne.
Should Dynamos proceed to the knock-out stage, they will be guaranteed at least US$100 000.
