Elvis Chuchu Chiweshe, who as Dynamos coach occupies one of the hottest seats in the local league, speaks to The Zimbabwean on Sundays Grace Chirumanzu about how his passion for DeMbare has kept him at the turbulent Harare side where he says he has often felt unhappy and unappreciated. Excerpts: Grace Chirumanzu (GC): It is often said the Dynamos job is the toughest for any coach, have you found it any different?
Elvis Chiweshe (EC): I have never been happy at Dynamos but the only thing that has kept me going is the positive results. The problem is I dont get people appreciating the good things that I do, they get to criticise when I lose ignoring the victories and the fact that I have managed to take the team to the mini-league stage.
I came when this team was in trouble and no one wanted to coach Dynamos, my first encounter was a tricky one against Highlanders and I won the game and I kept on producing results.
But come to look at it there are different factions at Dynamos and none of them get to accept me, an ordinary supporter is the one who appreciates me because of the results. Even though I may not be the best coach in the country, I know Im not the worse and all I need is people appreciating that.
GC: It surely must be tough keeping both the twin campaign for honours on the domestic front and in the African Champions League going, how are you managing?
EC: Because of the big player base . I have been able to have two strong sides for the league at home and the continental League; I have even managed to have two teams play each other with some substitution during training sessions.
GC: You really had a tough time in Algeria with all the ill-treatment and mind games that the West African like to playing on visiting teams, your comments on that?
EC: I think they just dont respect Southern African teams and the fact that Caf is controlled by those people in West Africa they seem to believe that they are the owners of the game.
Even if we file those reports they hardly consider it. Besides, these are just dirty mind games that we have never considered playing because of our culture. We know that one welcomes a visitor and see to that the visitor is well fed but then the opposite (seems to be) the norm in their (West African) culture.
GC: Coming to the local league, Motor Action have been so consistent so after and really looka good bet to clinch the title. Your views on that?
EC: They are a good side, they play good football, beat us 2-1 when we played them though it was from a dubious penalty. Their biggest advantage I think has been that they havent experienced injuries and they keep playing together as a team each week.
But unfortunately for them having a big team like Dynamos breathing down their neck means they will face the tough challenge of winning each match they play. Dynamos has got character and a huge support base when the going gets tough but I wonder if Motor Action can stand the heat in the thick of things.
FACTFILE
Fullnames: Elvis Ishmael Chiweshe
D.O.B: 10 October 1962
P.O.B: Mpilo Hospital, Bulawayo
Marital status: Married
Nickname: Chuchu
Current Club: Dynamos F.C
Position: Head coach
Post published in: Football