Dynamos coach Tonderai ‘Stanza’ Ndiraya will temporarily take charge of the Zimbabwe national team ahead of the upcoming Cosafa Cup until ZIFA sorts out papers for head coach Zdravko Logarusic.

Ndiraya and Harare City’s Lloyd Chitembwe are assistants to Logarusic in the Warriors technical department but the Croat was denied entry into South Africa yesterday when the team touched down at OR Tambo International Airport for the regional showpiece, because he did not have a valid visa.

Chitembwe on the other hand did not travel because he is blacklisted from entering South Africa due to previous transgressions.

This then leaves the responsibility of preparing the team, to Ndiraya, while ZIFA works flat out to have a visa for Logarusic.

“Meanwhile assistant Coach Tonderai Ndiraya will prepare the team in the absence of Coach
Lloyd Chitembwe who was never pencilled to travel to South Africa as a result of his non authorisation to travel to South Africa,” said ZIFA in a statement.

The Cosafa Cup roars into life in Port Elizabeth tomorrow.

Albert Eonde scored the only goal of the game as undefeated Dynamos edged ten-man Herentals 1-0 in a Chibuku Super Cup match played at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.

The Cameroonian finished off brilliantly from an equally well-struck pass from Tinashe Makanda in the 73rd minute, shortly after The Students had been reduced to ten man after Derek Chitsanzara was given his marching orders for a foul on King Nadolo.

As a result, DeMbare opened up a six point gap at the summit of Group 1, with 14 points, six ahead of second-placed Yadah, and seven ahead of third placed city rivals CAPS United.

Coach Tonderai Ndiraya said he the aim was to win and he was happy his charges did so in an evenly-contested match.

“Let me say what’s important was the three points we got today. They threw more numbers forward and importantly is that the boys did well defensively,” he said.

The Dynamos trio of defender Godknows Murwira, midfielder Shadreck Nyahwa and forward King Nadolo, have drafted into the Warriors fold for the upcoming Cosafa Cup.

Six-time winners Zimbabwe take part in the regional showpiece starting on July 7 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

Nadolo, Murwira and Nyahwa have all scored for the Tonderai Ndiraya-coached DeMbare in the Chibuku Super Cup.

Below is the full squad;

GOALKEEPERS
1.Washington Arubi (Marumo Gallants)
2.Nelson Chadya (Ngezi Platinum Stars)
3. Martin Mapisa (Zamora CF)

DEFENDERS
4.MacClive Phiri (Sekhukhune United)
5.Kelvin Moyo (Nkana)
6.Carlos Mavhurume (Caps United)
7.Andrew Mbeba (Highlanders)
8. Lennox Muchero (Yadah Stars)
9.Godknows Murwira (Dynamos)
10.Qadr Amini (Ngezi Platinum Stars)
11.Malvin Mkolo (Bulawayo Chiefs)
12.Jimmy Dzingai (Nkana)

MIDFIELDERS
13.Blessing Sarupinda (Caps United)
14.Perfect Chikwende (Simba SC)
15.Tatenda Tavengwa (Harare City)
16.Shadreck Nyahwa (Dynamos)
17.Brian Banda (FC Platinum)
18. King Nadolo (Dynamos)
19.Nyasha Dube (Little Rock Rangers)
20.Jonah Fabisch (Hamburger SV)
21.Ovidy Karuru (Black Leopards)
22.Richard Hachiro (Caps United)

STRIKERS
23.Farau Matare (Bulawayo Chiefs)
24.Knox Mutizwa (Lamontville Golden Arrows)
25.Evans Rusike

Legends of Dynamos today joined hundreds of mourners who converged at Misheck Chidzambwa’s house in Zengeza, to pay their respects to the late former Dynamos and Warriors defender.

Chidzambwa died on Thursday at the age of 66 after a long illness.

Among the mourners were legends of the blue and white army including Elvis ‘Chuchu’ Chiweshe, David George, and George ‘The Mastermind’ Shaya.

Also present were Dynamos sons Desmond ‘Gazza’ Maringwa and Norman ‘Lumumba’ Maroto, who were representing the Footballers Union of Zimbabwe (FUZ).

Chidzambwa will be buried at the family’s rural home in Mhondoro, on Monday.

The funeral was also graced by legends of the game like Stanford ‘Stix’ Mutizwa, Carlos Max, Charlie Johns and Brenna Msiska.

Mutizwa described Chidzambwa’s death as a huge loss.

‘Its a very big blow, taking into consideration that he has played football not only at Dynamos but also captained the national team. That alone can alone can tell you how great he was,” said Mutizwa.

”The Dynamos family has lost a legend, this is a huge loss. Dynamos have been robbed of a legend, the same applies for the nation at large,” he added.

Legendary former Dynamos defender Misheck Chidzambwa, has died.

Misheck, brother to another legend of the blue and white army Sunday, had not been will since last year and was in and out of the hospital.

Misheck played for the Glamour Boys in the early 80s and won seven titles.

He was also the first national team captain to lift a title for the country, when he skippered Zimbabwe to the Cecafa Cup at Rufaro in 1985.

As a coach, Misheck was the first to guide Zimbabwe to silverware, when under his guidance, the Warriors lifted the Cosafa Cup in the year 2000.

We send our condolences to the Chidzambwa family, Dynamos supporters and the entire local football fraternity at large.

Dynamos will resume their quest for Chibuku Super Cup glory when they take on Herentals on match day six at the giant National Sports Stadium on Thursday.

Kick off is 13:00.

Tonderai Ndiraya’s blue and white army will take on The Students looking to correct their wrongs from match day one, when the two sides played out a somewhat dull goalless draw at the same venue.

Football is back after government authorized its resumption but clubs are expected to follow all the Covid-19 protocols to mitigate the spread of the novel.

The Dynamos players got tested at Parirenyatwa Hospital this morning ahead of resumption of training.