By Eddie Chikamhi
Its all calm in the CAPS United and Dynamos’ camps as the two giants prepare for tomorrow’s showdown in the 67th edition of the Harare derby at the National Sports Stadium. The showdown, despite coming in the background of an average season from both sides, has still managed to arouse interest from the Blue and the Green halves of the capital.
This is a match that supporters from both camps have been waiting for since the beginning of the year when Dynamos beat CAPS United 3-2 in the Bob @’87 Challenge Cup. DeMbare have dominated the recent meetings between the two giants and Glamour Boys goalkeepers’ coach Tichaona Diya yesterday said they were eager to continue with their new found dominance over their bitter rivals.
Diya said they had put behind them the disappointment of their 2-1 loss to Blue Ribbon at Rufaro last Sunday. “The game against Blue Ribbon is now water under the bridge. We are focusing on CAPS United. We will try by all means to make the Dynamos family happy because such games as this one are tricky.
“We all want it and at the end of the day it can go either way. But on our side I can say we are fully prepared for it. The players are all psyched up and it seems they would have wanted to play even today because they are all raring to go,” said Diya. Diya, a former Dynamos goalkeeper said although morale was high in their dressing room, they were bracing or a tough afternoon from their old enemies.
“We don’t have any problems in the camp and the morale is very high. But without taking away anything from CAPS, I think they have a very good team and a very good coach in Moses Chunga. So it’s not going to be an easy game because winning means a lot to both sides. We will have to work extra hard because anything can happen in football,” he added.
Key Dynamos midfielder Archieford Gutu appears a doubtful starter for the crucial match due to an ankle injury he picked up in the league game against Black Mambas 10 days ago. Gutu who scored two goals to inspire DeMbare to a 4-1 win in the match and then missed last week’s 1-2 defeat to Blue Ribbon has trained in patches this week and hopes of a full recovery for the much-anticipated derby have been diminishing by the day.
Diya yesterday said they were keeping their fingers crossed ahead of the important fixture as Gutu is scheduled to undergo a fitness test today. Defender Guthrie Zhokinyi who has not seen much of the action this season due to injury is also expected to pass the test after resuming training two weeks ago.
However, coach Lloyd Mutasa’s options have been boosted by the availability of tough-tackling midfielder Milton Makopa, Thomas Magorimbo, Farai Vimisayi and skipper Desmond Maringwa who all appear to have fully recovered from injuries. Dynamos will be hoping that their strikeforce will find their range and Roderick Mutuma, Martin Vengesai and Patrick Khumbula should brace up for the challenge.
CAPS have most of their players available for selection but have been sweating over the recovery of midfielder David Rediyoni who could not train for the better part of the week because of a heel problem. The Green Machine are dangerous from set pieces inside the opposition half with goalkeeper Edmore Sibanda’s powerful drives difficult to handle for most Premiership goalkeepers.
“Yes, Sibanda is good from the set-pieces but we have worked on defending the dead ball. So I don’t think we will have problems in that area,” said Diya. CAPS United hotshot Simba Sithole believes the derby could be a tightly contested affair which could go either way.
“This is a big game and it can go either way. Derbies are difficult to predict and I would rather prefer to talk more after the game. But we cannot run away from the fact the no side is guaranteed victory in such big matches. Records usually don’t apply because these are two giants who are all eager to collect maximum points meeting in a crucial encounter.
“There could be many theories which could lead to various predictions. But just because Dynamos have been failing to win in their last games or CAPS have been winning does not give either side an advantage,” said Sithole. There is not much of a difference between CAPS and Dynamos on the log as the sides are separated by two points.
Makepekepe are currently fourth with 21 points while DeMbare are sixth with 19 and both sides are aiming to be among the top four at the halfway mark of the championship race. CAPS who got off to a flying start have encountered mixed fortunes along the way and only recently they won two successive matches in high scoring margins but were reduced to an ordinary side in the 0-0 draw against Monomotapa last Saturday.
But Sithole who is scheduled to leave CAPS for top South African outfit Mamelodi Sundowns next month believes Makepekepe could rise to the occasion in the derby. He also tipped CAPS for the title this season. The Zimbabwe Under-23 international is currently the Premiership’s leading goal scorer with 10 strikes under the belt.
“It’s a different game and we have to put in all our energies as we usually do. It’s a fact everyone wants to win in these derbies. We are all looking forward to it. I have just joined the team from the Under-23s and the morale is high among the players. I’m not worried about the spotlight or what people are saying about me or about this game,” Sithole said.
CAPS United coach Chunga has his full complement at his disposal with Gilbert Mapemba, Douglas Walaza, Nyasha Mukumbi, and Edmore Chafungamoyo available to provide cover in defence. Sithole is expected to lead the attack and Chunga has several options to complement him as Evans Gwekwerere, Frank Addu and Washington Pakamisa are also available.
“All we know is that we want to win, as a team. For that reason we are not going to put ourselves under a lot of pressure because this is just one of the games we need to collect maximum points. We will play our normal football. It will be good for us to finish the first half of the season in the top four. The league is very competitive this season and we just need to keep fighting because there is still a good chance,” said Sithole.
Despite the spotlight being placed on the infield players, both CAPS Umited and Dynamos will rely heavily on the exploits of their goalkeepers Sibanda and Washington Arubi. The two goalkeepers are not only experienced, but they have been pillars between the posts and have had a huge say in keeping their respective teams very much in the picture in the title chase.
It has been a frenetic week in the build up to the game but at 3pm tomorrow the hour of reckoning will come for the capital’s two biggest teams.
