INSIDE a heaving Rufaro Stadium on Sunday afternoon, Genesis Mangombe watched his new-look Dynamos teeter on the edge of disaster before clawing back their pride.
In a thrilling encounter that felt more like a cup final than an early-season fixture, DeMbare twice stared defeat in the face against arch-rivals Highlanders, ultimately salvaging a 2-2 draw.
The result preserved Dynamos’ unbeaten start to the 2026 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season but exposed defensive frailties Mangombe says must be fixed quickly as he rebuilds his squad.
Tellmore Pio and Colin Mujuru were the afternoon’s heroes, cancelling out strikes from Highlanders’ Never Rauzhi and Mongameli Tshuma.
But Mangombe believes the goals conceded were less about Highlanders’ brilliance and more about self-inflicted errors. Defenders Clive Mandivei and Christopher Nettey were caught in a catastrophic communication breakdown for the opener, while goalkeeper Tatenda Makoni was left red-faced after another mix-up gifted Bosso their second.
"We should not have conceded those blunders," a visibly frustrated Mangombe lamented.
"Those goals were avoidable. There was no communication whatsoever at the back, and the goalkeeper wasn't on the line. We will try and address those things at training, and make sure that we come up right."
Trailing and looking disjointed, Mangombe made a bold halftime move with a quadruple substitution. Whatever he told his players in the dressing room sparked a remarkable turnaround.
- Panashe Mutasa comes of age at Tenax FC
- Dynamos back to winning ways
- Ndiraya backs Antonio to impress in Belgium
- Artists struggling to grasp intellectual property rights
Keep Reading
The Glamour Boys emerged for the second half like a team possessed, pinning Highlanders back and dictating a frantic tempo.
As the dust settled on the dramatic comeback, Mangombe was quick to manage expectations. “We are not yet there. There are a lot of things we are still working on, and I'm sure we will come right. Our supporters need to understand this,” he said.
“But I also understand that Dynamos fans don't want anything less than a win. They want to win always.”
Mangombe admitted the pressure is a double-edged sword.
"So in as much as we are working gradually to address the players on how we want them to play, you also have the pressurefrom our fans who need their team to win,” he said.
“But I'm happy that the boys are responding under pressure, because we are giving them pressure also to adapt very quickly so that we start to play as a team and win games."
With four points from a possible six, Dynamos sit within striking distance of early leaders Caps United, who have six points.
Yet Mangombe is refusing to buy into title talk, insisting the priority is squad chemistry.
"We have to first focus on making sure that we have a team of players who understand each other and our philosophy," he insisted.
"Every coach wants to win trophies, including the league. But first, you have to make sure that you have a stable team that is consistent as well. When you have all that, you can now say, 'I want to win the league and the other Cups.' For now, we are still trying to adjust to some things, including combinations."
If Dynamos can eliminate the defensive lapses that marred the first half, their second-half performance suggests they could become a formidable force this season.
Their next test is a daunting trip to Barbourfields to face an unpredictable Bulawayo Chiefs on Thursday.
Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Matchday Three midweek fixtures
Tomorrow: Hunters v FC Platinum (Rufaro), Triangle v Caps United (Gibbo), Hardrock v Chicken Inn (Chahwanda), Ngezi Platinum Stars v Zpc Kariba (Baobab), TelOne v Simba Bhora (Ascot), Highlanders v Mwos (Barbourfields).
Thursday: Bulawayo Chiefs v Dynamos (Barbourfields), Manica Diamonds v Scottland (Gibbo), Herentals v Agama (Rufaro).
