Can DeMbare do it without Mukamba?

He scored 16-goals in all competitions, as De-Mbare hit the heights again, yet his importance to the team was not confined to goal-scoring. The midfielder’s ability to find the hidden spaces and spray pinpoint passes to all corners of the pitch meant he also played a crucial role in shaping DeMbare’s overall play.

Now Dynamos have to get on with life without their talisman, snapped by South Africa’s Bidvest Wits on a two-year contract. But can they still impose themselves on local opponents in the same manner they did with the irresistible player orchestrating play?

Former Dynamos great David George acknowledged that the 2012 Soccer Star of the Year’s departure was a huge blow for the Harare giants, but Motor Action assistant coach still believed they should be able to regroup, find replacements and get on with the business of winning trophies.

“Dynamos are a big club and players come and go. I am sure the coaches have been working hard to find replacements for Mukamba, who without doubt is a very good player,” said George, himself a former DeMbare great.

“They have always recovered from such developments in the past and I am sure they are capable of holding their own in the forthcoming season,” he added.

Another former Dynamos player, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the champions were likely to struggle this year given that “none of the new signings looked capable of taking over Mukamba’s playmaking duties”.

“Coach (Calisto) Pasuwa has brought in Russell Madamombe from Monomotapa but, while he is a good player, he does not have Mukamba’s quality,” he added.

“Besides, Mukamba also drew a lot of supporters to the stadium because he was exciting to watch. He would lift the fans with his skill. It could be long before Dynamos bring in another young player quite as exciting as him.”