CHAMPIONS Dynamos were scheduled to submit their provisional squad, which will begin the defence of their league and cup crown, to the Premier Soccer League yesterday. DeMbare have trimmed their squad down to about 30 and they were expected to hand their team list to the PSL offices by close of business yesterday.

But while coach Callisto Pasuwa said they could only discuss the squad publicly on Monday, The Herald has been tipped about the identity of the men who will plunge into battle for the Glamour Boys in the first part of the season.

Under the PSL Rules and Regulations, clubs can only register 30 players, with five supposed to be under the age of 20.

Dynamos had already settled on their 25 players to play in the Champions League and Pasuwa said the majority of these players will make the core of the team.

But with Wonder Sithole and Desmond Maringwa, who were omitted from the Champions League squad due to injuries back in action, Pasuwa had to make some tough decisions during the week.

The duo trained with the team this week and gave excellent performances and, with Norman Maroto, also vying to fill the void left by Cuthbert Malajila, Pasuwa had to juggle his act.

DeMbare fans also used the social media sites yesterday urging their officials to sign Benjamin Marere who is on his way out of FC Platinum after his relationship with the country’s richest football club turned sour.

Marere was left out of the FC Platinum team that played in both legs of the Champions League preliminary round and hammered Green Mamba of Swaziland 8-2 on aggregate.

It appears Marere has fallen out of favour with both his teammates and technical team after missing a gilt-edged chance, in the final minutes of the explosive game against Dynamos at Mandava last year, which the Glamour Boys won 1-0.

That Marere is a former Dynamos son rubbed salt into the wounds of the FC Platinum fans and the Zimbabwe international has also become a target of some sick dressing room jokes from his teammates.

Although Marere still has a contract with Division One side, Highfield United, he is unlikely to play for the Harare side and his running deal with FC Platinum, which comes to an end in December this year, could see him being loaned to a Premiership side.

But with FC Platinum considering Dynamos as one of their major threats in their battle to win the league championship, which they missed by goal difference last year, the Zvishavane miners are unlikely to sanction a deal for Marere to join DeMbare.

Bosso, it appears, could be Marere’s next destination although the striker wants to stay in the capital.

Pasuwa said they were still finalising their squad yesterday.

“We are still working on the squad but we will use almost the same players who had been registered to play in the Champions League.

“We sent a list of 25 to Caf and Malajila has since been dropped following his move to South Africa.

“This means there is going to be one or two additions since the Premiership requires 25 and five Under-20 players. By Monday we should have finalised our squad,” said Pasuwa.

Although DeMbare had registered players with Caf for the Champions League, a lot could have changed since most of them were not tied to contracts.

DeMbare have since off-loaded a host of other players like Nicholas Alifandika, Maxwell Nyamupangedengu, Patrick Khumbula, Nathan Ziwini, Gibson Madamombe, Knowledge Jimu and Dominic Benati.

But with negotiations already underway with goalkeeper Washington Arubi, DeMbare are set to have enough cover between the posts as they have brought in George Chigova. They also have Philip Nhete and were contemplating getting a fourth choice from Division One side AMC.

They have managed to tie down George Magariro to stabilise their defence, which already has Guthrie Zhokinyi, Gift Bello and rising star Partson Jaure.

Former Motor Action and Monomotapa leftback Ocean Mushure is also in the mix as he joins Augustine Mbara, David Kutyauripo and Thomas Magorimbo on the wingbacks.

Youthful midfielders Leeroy Murape and Brian Five are sure to come in among the players in the Under-20 category.

DeMbare are spoilt for choice when it comes to midfielders but Pasuwa faces a tricky situation over Malajila’s replacement upfront.

Big striker Takesure Chinyama has been struggling for full fitness of late and has been finding it difficult lasting the whole match on a hard surface during the practice games because of a recurring injury.

Chinyama has also been linked to a move to South Africa’s SuperSport when the window opens in June.

“We don’t know anything about that. We have registered him for the Champions League and is also expected to play in the domestic league,” said Pasuwa.

“If anything of that happens, I think that would pose a problem to us because we have been trying to beef up our strikeforce.”

Chinyama, Roderick Mutuma, Martin Vengesai, Tineyi Chitora and Zambian import Derrick Kabwe are expected to spearhead the Glamour Boys attack this year.

DeMbare will play two friendly matches this weekend in the capital and Pasuwa said he was happy with how the preparations have gone.

“So far, as coaches, we are happy with the performance at training. But we are facing problems going forward. I think we are taking long to break into the opponents’ half with the ball.

“We tend to play too many passes but I am saying we should play with the realisation of trying to go forward.

“It is Dynamos’ tradition to take the ball quickly into the opposition territory and not playing to the gallery.

“I also feel our recovery has been slow. We are giving the opposition too much room when we lose possession.

“These are some of the things we are trying to address before the start of the season,” said Pasuwa.

Dynamos squad

G. Chigova, W. Arubi, P. Nhete, A. Mbara, G. Magariro, D. Kutyauripo, G. Bello, T. Magorimbo, P. Jaure, G. Zhokinyi, O. Mushure, M. Murape, D. Chafa,T. Mamvura, T. Muparati, D. Mukamba, M. Makopa, L. Murape, B. Five, L. Kurauzvione, D. Maringwa, W. Sithole, Arthur Kaseloki, T. Mabvura, T. Chitora, M. Vengesai, R. Mutuma, D. Kabwe, T. Chinyama