Young guns blow Kaka away
DYNAMOS coach Genesis “Kaka” Mangombe has been blown away by the commitment and grind being displayed by the three players promoted from the Glamour Boys’ development team.
Of late, DeMbare have prioritised taking on board youngsters from their reserve side that play in the second division.
This is how gems like Bill Antonio who is now plying his trade at KV Mechelen in Belgium and Junior Makunike-now at Simba Bhora made their breakthrough having spent some time in the team’s junior ranks.
Premier Soccer League’s Most Promising Player for the 2023 season Elton Chikona was also promoted into the senior fold from the development mill so was his predecessor in the 2022 season Jayden Bakare as well as Tendaishe Magwaza and Vusa Ngwenya.
And Mangombe has taken aboard three players-Blessing Dziwo (24), Tinotenda Kamoyawo and Brendon Jerimani (both 17) from the development team ahead of the 2024 season.
Mangombe watched the three for the entire last season and he was impressed by what he saw.
Actually the former Yadah Stars mentor wanted to promote Dziwo last year but he couldn’t because the talented midfielder was still committed to tertiary education and had limited time to fully focus on Premiership football.
But he is now done with school and Mangombe wasted no time in drafting him into the senior team.
“I have no doubt that Dziwo will be a revelation in the top-flight. I know what he is capable of doing. He has limited experience but his confidence will conquer that,” said Mangombe.
“I have watched him play and I am working with him right now. I tell you he is a very good player and I like the way he is adapting to everything in the senior team.
“He is a focused young man and you can tell that he wants to work. Hopefully he will give us what he is showing when the time comes. But what I know is that mostly players play the way they train”.
The man who is also tipped to replace Baltemar Brito as the Warriors interim coach has equally been impressed by the pair of Kamoyawo and Jerimani.
The latter is a striker and the former, just like Dziwo, is a midfielder.
“The two teenagers are showing great potential and the way they carry themselves at training is very exciting. These are young players with big hearts and we are guiding them through.
“I know with the focus they are showing, they will be able to give us something when the time comes”.
The trio will not be without familiar company in the senior team as they played alongside Chikona and Ngwenya when the two were still in the reserve team.
But Ngwenya could find himself out of the Glamour Boys with a proposed loan move to a yet-to-be-named Premiership team this coming season after he failed to assert himself at Dynamos last season.
DeMbare are currently camping in Kariba and are scheduled to play ZPC Kariba in a practice match in the resort town this afternoon.
They are expected back in Harare early next week where they will wrap their preparations ahead of their proposed season-opening Harare Mayor Cheer Fund Challenge Cup against CAPS United at Rufaro on February 11.
The Glamour Boys will then faceoff against Ngezi Platinum Stars in the Castle Challenge Cup at Baobab a week later before they plunge into the league business.
Mangombe will have a huge task at hand this year in chasing for the league title which the Glamour Boys last won in 2024.
Dynamos will also be involved in the CAF Confederation Cup after winning the Chibuku Super Cup last year.