• Spy row erupts as Dynamos meet Coton Sport • Davids slay Goliath of African football • Dynamos storm into Champions League semis • Marufu double sinks ASEC, throws Dynamos lifeline • Do-or-die for Dynamos in Abidjan • Desperate Dynamos cling to slim hope • Last gasp goal denies Dynamos point in Cairo • Dynamos fall to Zamalek, stay second • Giant-killing Dynamos claim Asec scalp • Dynamos beat African champions • Dynamos survive Mozambique scare • Dynamos take commanding lead over Sol

By Nkanyiso Moyo
Posted to the web 04/10/2008 01:06:15
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe on Friday hosted a luncheon for Dynamos players and coaching staff at State House ahead of Sunday’s Champions League first leg semi-final clash with Cameroonian champions Coton Sport.

Mugabe, a self-confessed keen football fanatic, told the Dynamos players: “You are good and possibly you are better, and now we want you to be the best.”

With his deputy Joseph Msika also in attendance, Mugabe gave a piece of football advice to Dynamos: take your chances.

“All the chances that you miss, I score when I am watching on TV and that is my ability,” he said, repeating comments he made to the Zimbabwe national soccer team two years ago.

He added: "I told the Warriors before. By then they were playing well and not like now. I remember telling Peter (Ndlovu, former captain) that I never miss chances to score.”

ZIFA officials including chairman Wellington Nyatanga and CEO Henrietta Rushwaya also attended the event also designed to enlist the government’s financial support for Dynamos’ travel costs on the continent.

Mugabe pledged the government’s support, telling the Dynamos team: "We are with you today as you are going to play and yesterday we were also with you when you played the other games.

"When you play as DeMbare you are not playing only on behalf of the people from Mbare but you are playing for the people of Zimbabwe.

"You are our best team in Zimbabwe and now go and show that you are our best performers.”

MTN CAF Champions League Champions League 2008

Semi-Final Fixtures:
1st Leg:

Enyimba v Al-Ahly (03-05/10/2008)

Dynamos v Coton Sport (03-05/10/2008)

2nd Leg:

Ahly Ahly v Enyimba (17-19/10/2008)

Coton Sport v Dynamos (17-19/10/2008)

GROUP A

	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	PTS
Al Ahly	6	3	3	0	9	6	12
Dynamos	6	3	0	3	6	6	9
Asec Mimosas	6	1	3	2	7	6	6
Zamalek	6	1	2	3	4	8	5

18-20/07/08: Al Ahly 2-1 Zamalek
18-20/07/08: Dynamos 2-1 Asec Mimosas

01-03/08/08: Zamalek 1-0 Dynamos
01-03/08/08: Asec Mimosas 0-0 Al Ahly

15-17/08/08: Al Ahly 2-1 Dynamos
15-17/08/08: Zamalek 0-0 Asec Mimosas

29-31/08/08: Asec Mimosas 3-0 Zamalek
29-31/08/08: Dynamos 0-1 Al Ahly

12-14/09/08: Zamalek 2-2 Al Ahly
12-14/09/08: Asec Mimosas 1-2 Dynamos

19-21/09/08: Al Ahly 2-2 Asec Mimosas
19-21/09/08: Dynamos 1-0 Zamalek

GROUP B

	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	PTS
Coton Sport	6	3	1	2	6	5	10
Enyimba	6	3	0	3	10	10	9
TP Mazembe	6	2	2	2	7	5	8
Al Hilal	6	1	3	2	7	10	6

18-20/07/08: Al Hilal 3-2 Enyimba
18-20/07/08: Coton Sport 1-0 TP Mazembe

01-03/08/08: Enyimba 2-0 Coton Sport
01-03/08/08: TP Mazembe 0-0 Al Hilal

15-17/08/08: Enyimba 2-0 TP Mazembe
15-17/08/08: Al Hilal 1-1 Coton Sport

29-31/08/08: Coton Sport 1-0 Al Hilal
29-31/08/08: TP Mazembe 3-0 Enyimba

12-14/09/08: Enyimba 4-1 Al Hilal
12-14/09/08: TP Mazembe 2-0 Coton Sport

19-21/09/08: Coton Sport 3-0 Enyimba
19-21/09/08: Al Hilal 2-2 TP Mazembe

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