Dhlakama loves GreenFuel vibe
GREENFUEL coach Rodwell Dhlakama says the Chisumbanje outfit is taking it game by game as they aim to establish themselves as a competitive establishment in the top echelons of football in this country.
The Lowveld team has started the 2024 Castle Lager Premiership season on a high, collecting four points in the opening two games.
They beat Bulawayo Chiefs 2-1 in their first encounter at the GreenFuel Arena last week before they held Simba Bhora to a 1-1 draw at Wadzanai, in what was the first-ever Premier Soccer League tie to be played in Shamva, last Saturday. With a good-looking squad at their disposal, GreenFuel can fancy their chances of doing well in the league this season as compared to how they carried themselves in their debut season last year, where they even failed to record a single win in the opening six games. “These are early days in terms of the marathon. We are just starting the race and we can’t say much,” said Dhlakama.
“We have always been dreaming of a flying start to the season because we know it won’t be easy going into the marathon.
“There are so many good teams in the league. Every team in the league is looking decent to good, so you ought to be up there to be able to compete.
“Our aim, as we have always said, is to be a competitive team that can stand its ground even when things are tough.
“I am happy with how my players have reacted in the early stages of the season. They showed so much fighting spirit in both our opening games, they have trailed.
“We trailed in the opener against Bulawayo Chiefs and we ended up winning that game and we also trailed against Simba Bhora but still managed to rally back. With a bit of luck, we could have won that match as well.
“But we are now working on avoiding conceding first. That’s something we need to guard against.” GreenFuel has added another gem to their squad in the highly-rated winger Tadiwa Mhinyu who was in virtually every team’s wish list. The 20-year-old has previously seen action, albeit briefly, under the current GreenFuel assistant coach Darlington Dodo at ZPC Kariba.
Such is his huge potential that big guns like Dynamos and Ngezi Platinum were lining up lucrative deals for him. But he decided to settle for the fuel manufacturers who have also recruited good players like Tinotenda Meke, Clive Rupiya, Donald Ngoma, goalkeeper Nedrick Madeya, and Bruno Mtigo among others. “Mhinyu is an enterprising youngster who we believe can be a key cog in our campaign,” said Dhlakama. “We signed him recently and we are glad that his registration with the PSL is now through and he will be ready for selection in our next encounter (against Telone).”
Meanwhile, GreenFuel chairman Fredson Moyo has revealed that the GreenFuel Arena will be further developed while the season is underway. The stadium was upgraded to meet Premiership standards last year and that enabled the team to start hosting opponents at home after they had spent the better part of the season playing home matches at Gibbo in Triangle.
And Moyo said the venue will receive upgrades including the installation of floodlights.