Mangombe reveals source of problems

Sport
Mangombe on Sunday said he asked for a striker, but the club failed to get him one.

DYNAMOS coach Genesis Mangombe has attributed the team’s failure to mount a serious challenge for the league title on the club’s failure to back him in the July transfer window.

DeMbare stuttered to a one-all draw in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League against Bulawayo Chiefs, who are on a rebuilding exercise after losing eight key players last month.

Dynamos created an avalanche of chances, but only converted one, which was not enough to win them all three points.

They have scored just seven goals in their last 10 league matches. Dynamos last scored more than one goal in a single match when they defeated Arenel Movers on May 23.

To date, they have scored 19 goals from 22 matches and have now fallen 13 points off log leaders Simba Bhora.

Mangombe on Sunday said he asked for a striker, but the club failed to get him one.

“We are still mourning the same problem. I thought it was going to be better if we registered a striker during the transfer window, but we failed,” he said after the frustrating performance.

“So we need to work with the players that we have and try to psyche them up because some of the chances we are failing to score, it is not normal in the game of football.

“We are failing to score in an empty net. You need a finisher in front of goal. Someone who is hungry and it is now worrying me going into this Caf [Confederation Cup] competition.”

Mangombe added that he had identified a striker, but could not sign him.

“Yeah of course [I identified the striker], but it is now water under the bridge and it is no use to keep on talking about that [new striker]. It [the deal] failed and we need to work with what we have.”

Dynamos saw top marksman Obriel Chirinda stolen by Ngezi Platinum Stars from under their nose before the season started.

Chirinda is reported to have agreed a deal with DeMbare, but had his head turned by the platinum miners.

At the start of the season, Dynamos were touted as one of the title favourites after beefing up the squad that had finished third in the 2023 season.

Genesis Mangombe added some foreign flair to DeMbare, bringing on board Namibian Sadney Urikhob and Ghanaian midfielders Freddy Alick and Frederick Ansah Botchway.

However, it has not gone according to the script for Dynamos.

The Dynamos fans expressed their displeasure and sought audience with Mangombe after the match.

Some of the fans went to the extent of blocking the team bus from leaving, expressing their disappointment with the way things have fared so far.

This was their 12th draw in 22 matches, where they have won just six.

Their biggest win this season is the 3-0 triumph over Chegutu Pirates which, however, came via a boardroom decision following the premature end of the clash in Ngezi.

Although the Dynamos strike force boasts quality in the likes of Eli Ilunga, Emmanuel Paga, youngsters Alex Mandinyenya and Elton Chakona as well as Urikhob, Mangombe wanted to add another striker.

Their top goalscorer is on three goals this season.

However, Mangombe has chosen to use Ilunga sparingly this season despite him being one of the best finishers on the league.

DeMbare will play Zambia’s Zesco in the preliminary round of the Caf Confederation Cup.

The first leg will be played in Botswana on August 18 before the second in Zambia six days later.

Related Topics