Dynamos lock horns with CAPS United

Augustine Hwata and Paul Mundandi

HARARE – CAPS United will enter the Harare Derby this weekend, with a spring in their step after the Green Machine negotiated a tough assignment in Chiredzi and came back home with maximum points. 

Makepekepe’s boat had been rocked by two straight defeats, including a demoralising home loss to Shabanie, and they went into the tie against Triangle under pressure for a result.

Goalkeeper Tafadzwa Dube, at fault for one of the goals in the game against Triangle, was the hero with some top-drawer saves as CAPS United weathered a storm and showed determination to steal a priceless victory.

Good teams are shaped by the way they respond when they are under pressure and coach Taurai Mangwiro will be pleased that his charges picked all points, from a difficult venue, even when they did not play very well.

Substitute Joseph Mutambiranwa, who played for Mangwiro at Monomotapa and for Brenna Msiska at Eastern Lions, rose from the bench to score the priceless killer goal.

“It was a very tight game for us,” said Msiska. “We are now in the right direction. During the game we did not want to rush our efforts but wanted to beat them on the break. Our midfield was not playing well and that’s why we ended up playing with three strikers.”

There was a big travelling contingent of CAPS United fans and Msiska believes they made a huge difference. It was just the result that CAPS United needed, ahead of their Harare Derby showdown against Dynamos on Sunday, and the two giants will batttle in the big tie after coming into the match level on points.

Triangle coach, Gishon Ntini, appears to have escaped dismissal despite his team’s latest loss.

“Ntini has never been under pressure. They were all just rumours. He is our coach and all coaches are paid to perform,” Triangle official, Lovemore Matikinyidze, said.

“We have been been seeing a lot of positives in the team.”

Ntini said it was time the nation knows he wasn’t under pressure.

“I have been reading it in the papers but the truth is that I am not under pressure at all. I have a running contract with Triangle and it is very clear. My target is to save the team from relegation and I haven’t failed. People can hate my personality, I might be ugly but that has nothing to do with my work.

People are free to hate my personality but they must appreciate my work. And they must know that I am not here to create friends or enemies but to produce results for Triangle FC and whenever I do well I deserve to be recognised,” Ntini said.

CAPS United will now turn their focus on the Harare Derby and PSL chief executive, Kenny Ndebele, said it was likely to be played at the National Sports Stadium and it will also be live on SuperSport.

“We are still working on the fixtures for this weekend but the match between CAPS United and Dynamos could be at the National Sports Stadium.

“The venue is still subject to confirmation because we have sent our grounds committee to make an inspection after we received a letter from the Ministry (of Public Works) that the ground was ready for use now,” said Ndebele.

Dynamos, who had struggled to get off the blocks, appear to have hit a purple patch with Washington Pakamisa being the conductor of their orchestra in the last four games.

On Sunday, Pakamisa struck in the fifth minute while Farai Muparisi secured the insurance with a hotly disputed goal in the second half against Hwange at Rufaro.

“We would have wanted to get more goals in the second half after taking the early lead but we could not score,” said Tawanda Muparati.

“I think it’s important that we have been getting the goals and the strikers are now scoring.

“As we are picking up these wins, morale in our camp is also rising everyday and I think when we play CAPS United, we should be highly motivated for a positive result.”

I think so far we should not be having any pressure as we go into the derby. Warriors’ defender, Eric Chipeta, said Hwange were given a raw deal on Sunday and DeMbare’s second goal should not have stood.

“We had possession when the referee stopped play so that Washy could be attended to. Naturally we expected the ball to be retained to us as part of Fair Play but Boban then played a quick pass and this was not fair.

“Our momentum to get an equaliser was killed after that incident. We had reached a high level and it was possible for us to even score but the referee let us down. That incident deflated us but it’s part of the game and the referee’s decisions are final.”

Ndebele said the PSL were still waiting for reports before the taking a position on the match between Shabanie Mine and Harare City that ended prematurely at Maglas on Sunday.

The match was stopped in the 81st minute with Harare City leading 3-1 when angry fans threw missiles onto the pitch.

Week 10 fixtures

Motor Action v Shabanie

Black Rhinos v Chicken Inn

Buffaloes v Black Mambas

Highlanders v How Mine

Harare City v Triangle

CAPS Utd v Dynamos

Hwange v Tripple B

Monomotapa v F.C. Platinum