DYNAMOS coach Saul Chaminuka is putting on a brave face despite the grim reality of relegation looming large over the Harare giants.
Their woes deepened this past weekend with a 1-0 defeat to log leaders Simba Bhora, a result that saw the defending league champions open a three-point lead at the top of the standings.
Junior Makunike’s fortuitous second-half goal was enough to sink Chaminuka’s side deeper into the relegation zone.
The third consecutive loss leaves Dynamos second-bottom on the log standings with 15 points from 21 matches. They are six points adrift of Manica Diamonds, who currently sit at the relegation cut-off point.
Speaking after the disheartening loss, Chaminuka, visibly frustrated by the match officials' handling of the game, expressed belief that Dynamos can still pull off a miracle in their remaining 13 matches.
"If you look at the teams [in the bottom half], they are clustered. We are not very far away from most of them. Five or six teams are in the 25-point mark and under," Chaminuka said, referring to the teams just above Dynamos.
Indeed, the bottom half is so congested that Caps United, in 10th position, have 25 points.
Chaminuka believes that a few wins could propel his team out of the danger zone.
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However, this is where the problem lies: Dynamos have managed two wins all season and will need at least eight victories from their remaining fixtures to retain their Premier League status.
More worryingly, no team with 15 points at this stage of the season in the local league has managed to avoid relegation in recent times.
Despite the grim statistics, Chaminuka remains defiant.
"What we need is just to win maybe twice on the trot and we are out of the relegation zone."
When asked if his team is capable of stringing together two consecutive wins on current form, Chaminuka responded emphatically.
"Of course. Yes, we are capable of winning two matches. Where games are handled well and fairly, we will win games. And we are going to win games. We are going to survive relegation."
Dynamos will have an immediate chance to right their wrongs when they host fellow relegation strugglers Manica Diamonds at Rufaro Stadium in a midweek league fixture on Thursday.
Much like Dynamos, Manica Diamonds are also winless in their last three matches and have not secured a victory in their last seven outings.
Their last win was a 1-0 triumph over Triangle, which itself followed another barren spell of seven winless games.
Dynamos will undoubtedly view this encounter against a struggling Manica Diamonds side as a golden opportunity to finally start accumulating points and ignite their quest to avoid the dreaded drop.
Matchday 22 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League fixtures
Wednesday - Yadah v GreenFuel (Heart), ZPC Kariba v MWOS (Nyamhunga), TelOne v Simba Bhora (Ascot), Herentals v Chicken Inn (Rufaro), FC Platinum v Kwekwe United (Mandava), Ngezi Platinum Stars v Caps United (Baobab).
Thursday: Dynamos v Manica Diamonds (Rufaro), Highlanders v Triangle (Barbourfields), Bikita Minerals v Triangle (Gibbo).
