Zimbabwe's Dynamos Football Club beat Lengthens 1-0 on Thursday at Rufaro Stadium in Harare, with the winning goal scored by Evans Gwekwerere in the first half of the match.
Dynamos Coach Elvis “Chuchu” Chiweshe told VOA Studio 7 reporter Marvellous Mhlanga-Nyahuye that the team is using its regular season premier league matches to sharpen up for the Confederation of African Football Champions League tournament mini-league stage coming up in July.
Chiweshe said his team's morale is high - but lamented the controversy surrounding player Cuthbert Malajila, who has been barred by his club, Chapungu, from playing for Dynamos in the CAF tourney over contractual issues.
CAF announced the eight teams in to the mini-league stage. They include five former winners of the tournament: Egypt's Al Ahly and Ismali; Algeria's J.S. Kabylie and Entente Setif; and Tunisia's Esperance. Other qualifiers are defending champion T.P. Mazembe of DR Congo, 2009 finalist Heartland of Nigeria and Zimbabwe's Dynamos.
They will be divided into two groups of four. The winner and runner-up in each group will advance to semi-finals.
The Champions League winner claims a US$5.1 cash prize and a slot in the FIFA Club World Cup.