Will Samaita turn the corner?

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Is this a new beginning in old and familiar surroundings for Dynamos gaffer Lloyd “Samaita” Mutasa?

Back for a second bite of the cherry as coach at the club that gave him a name at the peak of his powers, the ex-midfielder will be hoping for a kinder reign given the unhappy divorce over halfa-decade ago.

DeMbare severed ties with one of its illustrious sons during the 2011 season following an indifferent start to the campaign, to replace him with another lad from the same family – Kallisto Pasuwa. The rest, like they say, rests in history

hether, Father, as the youth brigade he has conscripted to do duty for him at the Harare giants now call him, should be credited for laying the foundations of the four-year title success that was enjoyed under his erstwhile lieutenant Pasuwa – as posited in some circles – is a story for another day.

To go with his new challenge, Samaita appears to have a found a novel, sharp sense of fashion as well as a chimney to vent his bottled up emotions with those lean suits and trickling tears.

After finishing a lowly fifth – well, by Dynamos’ lofty standards – last season the tactician received a vote of confidence from the club’s management and was given a fresh mandate to, beginning with this 2017 season, try and restore DeMbare’s past glory as well as their glamour of old.

Tasked with the target, thrown down by the club’s hierarchy before the campaign kicked off, of securing 23 points from the Glamour Boys’ first 10 league games, the unassuming gaffer has accepted the challenge and is putting up a brave face.

After a sluggish start to the season in which his Young Turks stumbled to a defeat (FC Platinum) and draw (Triangle), they finally got it right in the cauldron of Hwange with a morale-boosting triumph.

Before that Samaita had led his charges to scoring enormous psychological victories over eternal rivals CAPS United and Dynamos in the Independence Cup semis and final respectively. Lifting the Uhuru Cup was an even sweeter reward for their troubles in that competition – a sweetener that may just cajole them into the firm, and justifiable, belief that there is some silverware to be fought for and won this season.

While the Easter Holidays offered Father and his “kids” some respite of sorts, it also gave them the muchneeded momentum that culminated in that spirits-soaring away win. Crucially, it was also their first of the campaign.

Presently, Mutasa’s progress report card reads a balanced one win, one draw and one loss out of the three league matches he has presided over.

After offloading some senior players at the beginning of the season, among whom include Roderick Mutuma, Stephen Alimenda and Sydney Linyama, the Dynamos gaffer has placed some trust and worth in youngsters and is building his team around them. Quite a revolution, if you please.

What is also striking about Samaita is that he is a firm believer in his own variety of football – a pass and move game that is easy and pleasant on the eye and architectured by a youthful side.

Do I hear someone murmur “but that did not work the last time out”? Yes, Whawha and Highway, who were relegated on Mutasa’s watch, were a different proposition altogether in terms of personnel and resources to his latest undertaking.

At the deep-pocketed and well-financed FC Platinum he won the Independence Cup in 2014 after defeating his current employers on penalties.

Let us consider what Samaita has currently going on at DeMbare a project. And, typically, like all projects this requires a certain cycle and phases – organisation; coordination; execution; efficient and effective management; monitoring; completion and evaluation in meeting set objectives to the satisfaction of the stakeholders; in this case the club executive and supporters.

The general feeling is that during his first spell in charge of Dynamos back in 2011 Mutasa was never accorded enough time to see out his programme to fruition.

But just what is enough time in such circumstances?

That said, as he sets out on another journey, will Samaita turn the corner? It’s Game On, Play On!

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