Gunners need to move mountains

The enigmatic Chunga, who led the Premiership new boys to the league title in only their second season in the topflight, decided to part company with the ambitious club a fortnight ago in yet unexplained circumstances.

Chungas departure for city rivals Shooting Stars, could not have come at a worse time for Gunners. They are bracing for their maiden dance with continental football where the CAF Champions League draw has been anything but kind to them.

The Zimbabwean champions will need to negotiate their way past an equally unknown quantity from Zanzibar, Mafunzo FC, in the preliminary round to set up a date with fierce Egyptian giants Al Ahly in the first round of the competition.

There is no doubt that Gunners needed Bambos shrewd tactical acumen now more than ever before. After all he is a man who fully understands the players they have after masterminding their fairy tale campaign in the PSL last season. But Gunners chairman Cuthbert Chitima refuses to lose sleep over Bambos departure putting his trust in Darlington Dodo, Chungas assistant during last years Premiership campaign.

“It was going to be a good thing to continue together (with Bambo) in the Champions League but when someone decides otherwise there isnt much we can do,” Chitima said. “Im not looking for a coach, Dodo will lead the team and Im happy with the preparations so far.” If records set by previous champions, Dynamos and Monomotapa, in the CAF Champions League are to be maintained then Gunners affectionately known as Chando Kupisa must be prepared to move mountains.

Like Gunners preliminary round opponents Mafunzo are newcomers to continental football. They won the Zanzibari championship for the first time last season taking over the baton from Miembeni FC who were knocked out of the Champions League by then Zimbabwean champions Monomotapa.

A victory over Mafunzo will be rewarded with a showdown with mighty Egyptian outfit Al Ahly, with qualification to the money-spinning mini-league stage at stake. There are not any bigger opponents in African club football than the five-time champions, who received a bye together with Zimbabwes other representatives Dynamos, ASEC Mimosas of Cote dIvoire, Al Hilal of Sudan, Nigerias Heartland and defending champions TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Chitima is however not worried about any of the fixtures maintaining that Gunners is also “a big team to be playing in the Champions League” where “the better team of the day will win”.

According to team manger Wellington Mupandare, Chando Kupisa have registered six new players for the Champions League campaign former Shooting Stars captain Elvis Meleka, reliable national team defender Daniel Veremu, former Monomotapa midfielder Asani Nhongo, Tongai Magwendere who returns from a loan spell with Hwange, former CAPS United short stopper player Tsungi Mudzamiri and defensive midfielder Mudiwa Mususa from Kiglon.

It remains to be seen whether these new acquisitions will add steel to the Gunners set up and help the new comers fly high the Zimbabwean flag in the jungles of African football.