THE YELLOW SIDE OF KITWE – WHAT HOLD THEM BACK
Back in the day when the playing surface at their homeground was so lushy and the fans called it carpet. These were the days when most families in the middle to lower income brackets thought the carpet was a preserve of the rich. The team was effectionately referred to as Power 90. True to the word.
Its the heydays when this side won what has turned out to be the only continental club trophy to have graced Zambia. They are:
POWER DYNAMOS
They have the infrastructure, backing of sponsors as well as an impressively huge fan base. Whatever makes them fall short is something that the followers of Power Dynamos seemingly fail to come to terms with.
MAIN STRENGTH
On their day Power Dynamoa are capable of playing spellbinding attacking football, and their 5-0 evisceration of Konkola Blades in the first round of the season was arguably the best performance of the season so far.
When their more speedy players are available Power Dynamos have the ability to produce devastating counter-attacks that have typified all of the best Dan Kabwe and Power Dynamos possesse.
MAIN WEAKNESSES
Power Dynamos still struggle to puy games to bed in the seemingly smaller matches, and as Konkola Blades showed last month in Chililabombwe, are still susceptible to wilting under a physical onslaught.
Defensively they are very good and that will attest that fact that they have lost fewest number of games this season (4) equalled only ZANACO.
MANAGER
Dan Kabwe remains as wedded to his principles as he did when he arrived in Kitwe in the middle of the 2016 season, and continues to divide supporters. On s good day he will make sublime changes that will see his team play with purpose but on other day he struggles to wring changes that would make Power stamp authority on these games.
Starting this season in charge, Dan Kabwe has made himself popular at Arthur Davies and I think he is one of the most liked coaches in the league by their fans. As those who would come out with criticism, wouldn’t be taken seriously.
That should be advantage Power Dynamos.
INJURY LIST
Power Dynamos have a number of injury concerns top on the bill is Jimmy Ndlovu in their ranks with the unavailability in most of the games and if he starts the chances of being replaced is high reducing the options for Dan Kabwe upfront, the most damaging blow.
CURRENT MOOD AND FORM
Pretty dark. There is a sense at the Power Dynamos that lessons of previous seasons have not been learned, and the 0-0 draws from the 27th May to 11th June were worryingly insipid. Fans’ rage during the draws summarised how many fans were feeling at that time. They are winless in three games already and that have seen them give up top four position, another worry that Dan Kabwe should be working on!
DISTRACTIONS
Power Dynamos resume their League campaign next weekend with an extremely difficult tie against Green Buffaloes. In in the past few seasons Power’s season has fallen apart around this time when the burden of fighting for points overwhelmed their fragile squad. If they turn around their season at the right time and start getting results , there’s little to suggest they will be able to avoid a similar fate this time. As other teams look to have strengthened.
For now they are predictable and perhaps Dan Kabwe has lost faith in players who can actually deliver. It showed against Zesco United.
Dan Kabwe needs to get this settled.
EXPERIENCE
Of the current squad, there are a number of players with Super League experience, and the likes of Luka Lungu and Larry Njobvu brings that experience to the team.
Dan Kabwe is also believed to be one of the best tactical coaches in the country at the moment and he will hope to bring that experience to bear fruit with the team that has won just one league title in the previous five seasons. Largely the experience the squad has with Power Dynamos is of consistently finishing in the top four but falling short in the title race.
KEY PLAYERS
Alex N’gonga, who has scored 7 goals on his return in the fewer league appearances, and has carried the team single-handedly for much of the second part of the season looks to be the main man.
The team’s reliance on the forward is frightening at times.
Jimmy Ndlovu, if we take out the injuries should have been the main man with 6 goals already but the treatment bed has kept him several times out of the team.
Martin Daka should not be ignored, he brings something that seems missing every time he is given a run in.
Power Dynamos certainly have a bigger squad than ever before in recent times, but there remains a suspicion that many of the fringe players are not up to the required standard. The likes of Gozon Mutale, Lyson Sikaonga and Allan Kamwanga have not exactly grasped their opportunities with both hands in the last few months.
BIG – MATCH TEMPERAMENT
Pretty woeful. Power Dynamos have a reasonable record playing the big teams at the Arthur, but away from home they struggle badly against the rest of the top six, winning just one against Nkana in the first round of this season at Nkana stadium.
This season Power Dynamos are bottom of the top five mini-league of matches against one another.
REMAINING FIXTURES
Given their weakness on the road against title rivals, they will be relieved that they are done on the road to fellow big boys but the two home games against Green Buffaloes and Zanaco should send shivers to the Arthur Davies faithfuls.
Trips to come to Lumwana and Kabwe Warriors are also mind boggling as those could be crucial. But they will be relieved with a home encounter against Real Nakonde and possibly an away game to City of Lusaka were they don’t have a choice but to bug three points.
Lumwana Ground and Ucar Godfrey will not fill Power Dynamos fans with confidence. At least GBFC and ZANACO have to come to Arthur Davies.
SO , CAN THEY WIN THE LEAGUE?
No they won’t. Its very doubtful now – Power Dynamos have too much ground to make up, and there’s too little recent evidence to suggest they will win the big home matches required of them to be champions.
The fight will be in the top four! Another season with lessons to learn for Power almost coming to a close!!
