LLOYD "Mablanyo" Chigove has all of a sudden transformed himself into the darling of millions of Dynamos fans following a good run after taking over from Genesis Mangombe as head coach of the Premier Soccer League giants.
Two wins and two draws in four matches — including two in the CAF Confederation Cup — have seen Mablanyo win more admirers and Dembare fans are beginning to believe in their team once again.
Some are even calling out that Chigove has done more than enough to be given the job on a long-term contract unlike the present caretaker arrangement.
The former Zimbabwe Under 17 coach is taking care of the team following the departure of Genesis Mangombe who could not stand the heat and left for lower division side Scottland.
Mangombe, who is a former Yadah coach, had lost support at Dembare and it was just a matter of time before he was be shown the exit.
His crime was that the team was not performing well because there was division amongst the players which he was failing to address as Dembare consistently drew matches rather than winning them.
Now at Dynamos, and under Chigove, the same players are beginning to perform with intent and the results have been there for everyone to see although sterner tests still are to come.
The manner in which Dynamos dismatled ZPC Kariba 3-1 in the Chibuku Cup and the players' singing and dancing at the end of the game revealed the long lost unity that MaBlanyo has brought back among the players.
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This is surely the time for Chigove to prove that he is worth the head coach's job rather than being always an assistant and a caretaker all the time and never trusted with the horns.
He has been in this position before and on all the occasions, a new head coach has always been brought in to take over from his patient groundwork.
In fact, Chigove has also seen it all at junior and lower division levels and needs to be tested to the full at Premiership status and at the level of Dynamos.
So far, it is so good as MaBlanyo also moves to prove that Zimbabwean football should take the risk of trying new coaches rather than recycling the same coaches over and over again and for that matter, from one club to the other.
There surely is a greater moment standing between him and his team and that is qualifying for the mini-league stage of the CAF Confederation Cup and little Orapa of Botswana stand between Dynamos and that honour.
It would be cruel for Dynamos to disappoint their fans by failing against Orapa having negotiated their way past what looked like a bigger hurdle in the form of Zesco of Zambia.
On that premise, MaBlanyo should stick to his principles and never allow the rain and wind of the politics at Dynamos to wash him away and should resist influence in his team selection.
Surely, the league title appears out of sight for Dembare, but the Chibuku Super Cup and a place in the Confederation Cup mini-league are within Dynamos' reach.
However, success in Africa would be more appealing than anything else — including the Chibuku Cup, and MaBlanyo should be told that — Surely, in MaBlanyo, they love, but will he be able to match the level of expectation?
For your comments, views, and suggestions, mkariati@gmail.com or Whatsapp on 0773 266 779.
