8 September 2009

Harare — DEFIANT Monomotapa are scheduled to fly out to Tunisia tonight for their make-or-break Champions League Group B encounter against Etoile du Sahel in Sousse on Saturday night.

After showing so much promise in the competition, Monoz have lost their way with the modest Harare side now needing more than just their own results to secure a semi-final berth.

Monoz got off to a blistering start to their Group B campaign when upstaging Etoile Du Sahel with a 2-1 win over the 2007 winners at Rufaro.

Sadly for Monoz, the victory at Rufaro remains their only triumph in Group B, as they went on to lose their next three games against Heartland of Nigeria and Democratic Republic of Congo giants TP Mazembe twice.

Those three straight defeats, especially their 5-0 humiliation by Mazembe in Lumbumbashi, have left Rodwell Dhlakama's men teetering on the brink of elimination from a possible semi-final slot.

Tonight Monoz will fly out to Tunisia via Johannesburg, South Africa, and Cairo in Egypt, knowing that anything short of victory will also mean that they would need to beat second-placed Heartland by a bigger margin at Rufaro in their last game.

Defeat in Sousse will also mean that Monoz's last group match would be of academic interest. Dhlakama yesterday made few changes to his squad when naming the final travelling party.

Former CAPS United striker Tendai Gwata, who came on as a second half substitute in the 2-0 defeat to TP Mazembe, has been left out so has former Chapungu goalkeeper Jorum Muchambo, who makes way for Tapiwa Mafunga.

But with the technical department likely to retain faith in Mangove, Mafunga, who joined from the now defunct Eastern Lions, might have to contend with a place on the bench.

Fidelis Mangezi, who has been struggling with his game at right back, has also been left out with the hard-working Tapiwa Khumbuyani -- who had a good game against Underhill in the 3-0 Premiership win over the Beitbridge outfit -- forcing his way into the reckoning.

Khumbuyani, who arrived from Chapungu at the start of the year, was included in the 24-member delegation released by club treasurer Bhekithemba "Far" Ndlovu yesterday.

Dhlakama has, however, kept the core of the side that has regularly done duty in this competition with the talented Darryl Nyandoro, roving midfielder Asani Nhongo, and the influential trio of Daniel Kamunenga, Daniel Zokoto and Charles Chiutsa available for selection.

The Monoz coach will also be hoping that his charges will continue with the scoring form they have shown in the domestic league in the last week. After struggling with their game for much of the season, Monoz fired six goals in two games inside a week.

They first crushed Njube Sundowns 3-1 at Rufaro last Wednesday before thumping Underhill 3-0 at Dzivaresekwa on Sunday. Dhlakama will also be happy to note that newboy Tawanda Nyamandwe has finally found his range at Monoz.

Nyamandwe, who joined Monoz from Kiglon just before the start of the mini-league campaign, broke his goal duck in the victory over Sundowns before finding the target again with the third goal in their triumph over Underhill.

Chiutsa also remembered how to score when grabbing a brace that set the tone for Monoz's victory over Underhill.

Monomotapa delegation:

Team:

G. Mangove, T. Khumbuyani, O. Mushure, L. Simango, V. Chitema, M. Maphosa, C. Semakwere, D. Zokoto, C. Chiutsa, D. Kamunenga, T. Nyamandwe, D. Nyandoro, A. Nhongo, L. Mdluli, A. Chimusaru, B. Mapfumo, T. Mafunga, T. Samanja.

Technical: R. Dhlakama (coach), T. Mangwiro, (assistant coach); C. Munemo (team manager); L. Maungwa (medic).

Officials: D. Makombe, O. Makwengura (head of delegation).

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