He might still be new to Zimbabwean football but Bulawayo Chiefs’ expatriate coach Nilton Torreso is fully aware of what his side are up against when they take on Harare giants Dynamos in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Barbourfields Stadium on Saturday.
Chiefs, one of the teams to dominate the January transfer window after making a number of top signings, made a big statement for the season when they beat champions FC Platinum 2-0 last month.
The ambitious Bulawayo side which sits seventh in the league produced underwhelming performances in the last two matches, losing 2-1 to Chicken Inn and playing a goalless draw with Tenax in the last two fixtures.
And now they have an opportunity to redeem themselves against the most successful club in the country, Dynamos.
“Looking at Dynamos I am fully aware of the size and the respect they deserve as a club, as a fanbase and as being the team with the greatest history in this country,” Coach Torreso told reporters during a Press conference.
“Having said that this year they have publicly announced that they want to win the title. They have invested to win the title; they have brought in players to win the titles.
“Playing teams like this is different (especially) playing in a stadium where we don’t normally play, a bigger stadium with more fans against us than for us even though it’s a home game,” he said.
WE ARE READY to DROP A GIANT. We are excited
🎶 Dembare timu yedu, zora butter usekerere 🎶🎶@_MWOS @CrestaHotels @machachesec pic.twitter.com/9D9F8mScy2
— 𝔹𝕦𝕝𝕒𝕨𝕒𝕪𝕠 ℂ𝕙𝕚𝕖𝕗𝕤 𝔽ℂ (@BulawayoChiefs) March 3, 2022
The Ninjas look like serious title contenders after bringing in a number of experienced players such a defender Kelvin Moyo, strikers Perfect Chikwende and Obriel Chirinda, Kelvin Madzongwe and Obadiah Tarumbwa.
Dynamos also beefed up their squad for the season with the likes of Ralph Kawondera, defender Brendon Mpofu from rivals Caps United, and former striker Evans Katema.
However, the Glamour Boys suffered a setback last weekend after losing at home to Chicken Inn.
“It’s going to be a difficult game not only because of the size of the team we are playing against but the fact of the matter is that its two teams who are coming from difficult results. It’s two teams that want three points I am sure so I think it will be two teams that will do everything they can to get the three points,” Terroso said.
𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝘀𝗸
Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Match Day 6
📆 5 March 2022
🕜 1500hrs
🏟️ Barbourfields
Gate charges : $3 Rest of Ground
$5 VIP
$10 VVIP pic.twitter.com/19Zgdi31wl— 𝗗𝘆𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗼𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗖𝗹𝘂𝗯 (@OfficialDynamos) March 2, 2022
The two teams have met four times in the league since Chiefs joined top flight football in 2018 and they both have one victory each.
Dynamos’ win over Chiefs came in their very first meeting on May 13, 2018 while the latter recorded a 2 – 0 victory a year later.
Castle Lager PSL weekend fixtures: pic.twitter.com/U9F4rrtdXn
— Castle Lager PSL ZW (@CastleLagerPSL) February 28, 2022
The other meetings ended in draws.