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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
TROUBLED Harare giants Dynamos make their second visit to Bulawayo this season to face bubbling Tsholotsho FC at Barbourfields Stadium tomorrow keen on restoring their wounded pride following a woeful start to the 2016 Castle Lager Premiership campaign.

Dynamos will want to quickly forget their first trip to Bulawayo in Week One when they were mauled 0-3 by champions Chicken Inn.

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Their second visit to Bulawayo comes at a time the Harare giants are a pale shadow of the club that won four consecutive Premiership titles from 2011 to 2014.

After six rounds of matches in 2015, Dynamos were firmly among the championship contenders, sitting pretty in second place with 14 points, just a single point behind eventual winners Chicken Inn.

Fast forward to Match Day Six of the 2016 season and Dynamos find themselves second from bottom, with a mere five points and 11 points adrift of leaders FC Platinum.

In fact, Dynamos’ performance is deteriorating at an alarming rate and they need to start winning to protect their rich history.

Teams that had five points at this stage of last season, Whawha and Flame Lily, were both relegated, and although DeMbare are unlikely to follow suit, they must be very afraid.

They have to dig deep and put up a special performance to beat a Tsholotsho side that thrives on team work and are a delight to watch on and off the ball.

Tsholotsho go into tomorrow’s game in high spirits following a hard-fought 1-0 away win against Harare City during the same weekend that Dynamos lost by a similar score line to FC Platinum at home.

Tsholotsho are 10th with seven points and they are not reading much into Dynamos’ troubles.

Defenders William Stima and MacClive Phiri said they will stick to their game plan and not change because they are facing Dynamos.

“The coach always emphasises on one thing; that we’re in the league to compete and mustn’t give too much thought on opponents. What is key for us is to ensure we stick to our game plan and get a positive result. We’ve played Dynamos before and have never lost to them. Obviously we don’t want to lose at this stage because we need to pick as many points at home to ensure that we stay within our top eight target finish,” said Phiri.

Last year Tsholotsho drew twice against Dynamos, 0-0 in Harare and 1-1 at Barbourfields Stadium where DeMbare midfielder Stephen Alimenda scored a spectacular own goal to deny the visitors maximum points.

Stima, Tsholotsho’s captain said: “To us, playing Dynamos is just like playing any other PSL club. We don’t have pressure at all and the only thing we want is to get maximum points. Our sights are on winning the game, something which we are confident of doing. We just have to contain them and the pressure coming from their supporters.”

Stima will lead from the back, partnering Thandolwenkosi Ncube in central defence, while MacClive Phiri and Nkosilathi Moyo will play as wingbacks.

Tsholotsho’s midfield unit is likely to be made up of defensive midfielder Butholezwe Ncube, Ocient Ncube, Kriess Chitiyo, Simbarashe Gorogodyo and veteran Joel Luphahla.

Former Njube Sundowns forward Dylan Chivandire is likely to play as a lone striker, with support from Luphahla and Gorogodyo when attacking.

Other attacking options for Tsholotsho are Mustafa Ponyera, Nicholas Mundandishe and Nixon Gama.

Dynamos will pin their hopes on their blunt forwards Roderick Mutuma and Evans Gwekwerere as well as young striker Kudzanai Nyakasaka, the likes of Masimba Mambare, Alimenda and Brett Amidu will battle in midfield in the absence of the suspended Dominic Mukandi.

Ocean Mushure, Sydney Linyama and Augustine Mbara will be expected to provide sufficient cover for goalkeeper Tatenda Mukuruva.

Fixtures

Tomorrow: FC Platinum v Border Strikers (Mandava), Tsholotsho FC v Dynamos (Barbourfields), Chapungu v Ngezi Platinum Stars (Ascot), Caps United v ZPC Kariba (Rufaro)

Sunday: Mutare City Rovers v Chicken Inn (Sakubva), Triangle United v Bulawayo City (Gibbo), Hwange v How Mine (Colliery), Highlanders v Harare City (Barbourfields)