CAPS United finally end DeMbare jinx

By Eddie Chikamhi

CAPS United  . . . . . . . . . .(1) 1
Dynamos  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  0

It has taken five years but CAPS United finally ended rivals Dynamos’ dominance with a committed performance that torched wild celebrations among their fans who staged a party that would have been fit for the championship.

Dominic Mukandi, the man who delivered the killer punch that broke the jinx, dedicated his goal in the ZNA Charities semi-final tie to team coach Taurayi Mangwiro and the Green Machine family.

For long CAPS United have played in the shadows of their Harare rivals and yesterday Mukandi could not believe it when referee Batsirayi Muchenje blew to end the match after his 37th minute wonder strike handed Makepekepe victory at the National Sports Stadium.

CAPS United had last beaten Dynamos in any competition back in April 2009 when Nyasha Mushekwi grabbed a brace in the 2-0 triumph at Rufaro.

They needed a hero and yesterday Mukandi rose to the big stage as his rising shot from near the penalty arc beat goalkeeper Artwell Mukandi in goals for DeMbare in the absence of George Chigova.

The former Monomotapa and Motor Action defensive midfielder, who shot first time after being set by Dominic Chungwa, however, remained modest as he battled to control emotions in the ecstatic scenes that followed the final whistle.

They will now face FC Platinum in the final after the platinum miners snatched the ticket courtesy of a 3-2 win over Highlanders at Barbourfields.

“I don’t have much to say but I just want to say thanks to my coach Taurayi Mangwiro and this is for all at CAPS United. I love my coach and I love my CAPS United,” said Mukandi.

“Right now I’m on cloud nine and I don’t know what to say. Records are there to be broken and I am happy we broke a record today.”

CAPS United continued with their good run at their home ground since their decision to switch back to the National Sports Stadium and the win over Dynamos was their third straight victory after beating Triangle and Black Rhinos in league matches at the giant venue.

DeMbare also play their home games at the National Sports Stadium but their performance haven’t been impressive.

Mangwiro was delighted with the win given that he badly needed a victory over DeMbare to silence the doubting Thomases, among the CAPS United fans, who have always used his old Dynamos links to attack him.

The coach has battled to fend off accusations from a section of sceptical supporters who always look for an opportunity to accuse him of undermining the CAPS United cause whenever they play Dynamos.

Mangwiro is a former Dynamos player and his presence in the Green Machine dressing room has often been a source of discomfort for some fans. The win, he said, was a big morale booster ahead of this year’s back-to-back fixtures in the league competitions.

“We needed to (break the jinx) and I have always said it. Even in the other two matches that they beat us by 1-0 margins, they were very close contests.

“Today, I am happy we finally managed to break that jinx and it should give us the psychological edge going into week 15 and 16.

“It does (give confidence to us as a team) but for me as a coach, some sections of the fans always align me to Dynamos of which there is no better way of convincing them that my allegiance is at CAPS United,” said Mangwiro.

Both teams missed a couple of key players due to injuries and national team commitments but the expectations still remained high from both sets of supporters.

Makepekepe, who were the better team, were happy with their performance.

“We got off to a good start and we managed to protect our lead.

“Having taken the lead I told the guys that the best way to defend is by attacking and I thought we had another couple of opportunities to kill the game as a contest but we couldn’t do so but I am glad at the end of it all we managed to hang on,” said Mangwiro.

Dynamos missed their coach Callisto Pasuwa, who is away on national duty, and his assistants Philemon Mutyakureva and Tichaona Diya directed the operations from the bench as they watched their team failing to score for the fourth match in succession.

DeMbare team manager Richard Chihoro said the Glamour Boys are worried by the recent trend as they have not won a game in their last four outings.

“I think we gave away a soft goal in the first half. CAPS United dominated the midfield and that’s where we lost the game.

“Definitely we are worried we are not winning games.

“We have to go back to the drawing board and I think the next game we play against FC Platinum we are going to pick maximum points,” said Chihoro.

Teams

Dynamos: A. Mukandi, B. Moyo, O. Mushure, T. Ndlovu, A. Mbara, T. Magorimbo, W. Mukanga (C. Sekete, 52nd minute), O. Machapa (W. Pakamisa, 52nd minute), T. Mabvura (R. Chitiyo, 82nd minute), T. Rusike, S. Sithole

CAPS United: J. Muchambo, D. Mukandi, A. Nhongo, D. Chipala, S. Makatuka, T. Samanja, M. Muchenje, G. Phiri, P. Zimunya (G. Mangani, 69th minute), L. Fiyado (A. Phiri, 86th minute), D. Chungwa. The Herald