Dodo swims in the deep end

Dodo, Chunga’s most trusted lieutenant, usually packs his bags to follow wherever Chunga goes, but this time he surprised all and sundry when he stayed put at Gunners after Chunga fell out with the team management over alleged pay dispute.

Dodo has been Chunga’s assistant at Gunners and both are credited for taking Gunners to the Promised Land after only two years in the topflight league. Chunga beat rivals Dynamos to the finishing line in a close race last season as he laid his hands on his first major silverware since he started his coaching career a decade ago.

But, the nomadic coach quit Gunners at a time he was expected to guide them towards their maiden African Champions League. Many theories have been advanced over his sudden departure to Shooting Stars with some suggesting that the controversial coach did not have the pre-requisite coaching qualifications to handle international matches

and therefore wanted a new challenge with a team that was not involved in international competitions.

Others suggested that he quit because of a row over pay with the team management. Chunga himself has declined to disclose the circumstances surrounding his unexpected departure saying only he will speak at the appropriate time.

But, Dodo who stayed behind to see through the project they started with his boss-Chunga has started off on a high note in the jungles of African football following his team convincing 2-1 win over Mafunzo FC of Zanzibar in Tanzania two weeks ago.

Chief striker Norman Maroto and David Rediyon were the heroes for Gunners as they scored two goals apiece to see off their opponents in the preliminary round first leg tie.

Dodo is happy with the way things are going so far. “I am happy with the way the guys are responding. They played to instructions and we managed to score two goals away from home. I hope to finish off Mafunzo FC in the second leg at Rufaro this weekend,” he said.

He added: “The team has great potential to go very far in this tournament. The guys are hungry for success. You can see that at training. In the second leg at the weekend we will be cautious not to allow them to score goals because away goals count a lot in this competition.”

Mafunzo FC are expected in Harare this weekend but they have a mountain to climb as they have to score two goals without reply to qualify for the next round of the tournament after they allowed Gunners to score two crucial away goals in the first leg.