By Eddie Chikamhi
DYNAMOS forward Rodreck Mutuma says the pressure to win big matches will inspire the Glamour Boys ahead of the clash with old rivals CAPS United, with the forward saying victory in the Harare Derby was very special and could transform their season.
The two giants meet at Rufaro tomorrow.
Mutuma, who scored his first goal of the season last week for their first set of maximum points in a 2-1 win over Mutare City Rovers, yesterday told reporters that he is feeling highly motivated and even promised CAPS United a tough game.
The win at Sakubva helped calm nerves ahead of the Harare Derby and this week there was a refreshing air of confidence in the Glamour Boys camp. Mutuma said everyone in their team was looking forward to another routine win over Makepekepe.
“The match in Mutare restored our confidence. I managed to score and the team got three points. So we are geared up for the Derby and, definitely, I am going to score,” said Mutuma.
“Obviously, soccer is a pressure game, especially if you play for a team like Dynamos and you don’t score. There are no two ways about it. Dynamos need goals for you to keep your place in the team.
“If we are involved in goalless matches everyone blames you. But I think that pressure has helped us to pull up our socks. “The combinations are now coming up and I think we now know each other better. So we are geared up, we have done everything for this Derby and we are now waiting for Sunday.”
Dynamos have not lost to their rivals since 2009 and they are keen to stretch the record to seven years while Makepekepe are tired of the jinx. Although DeMbare have not been performing well of late, Mutuma said they are looking at the bigger picture as they aim to win the Derby and turn around their season.
“Since it’s a big game with an expected capacity crowd we can’t let our fans suffer the pain of losing to CAPS United. We will die for them on the pitch in order to secure their happiness.
“Of course, it’s a race. There are many teams involved but beating CAPS United is more important to Dynamos. It’s a Derby, plus there is history there. We don’t want to go down in history as the Class that lost to CAPS United after a long time,” said Mutuma.
DeMbare coach, Paulo Jorge Silva appeared composed yesterday, despite the pressure to win so that he secures his job. Silva passed the first hurdle of the three-match ultimatum last week when he beat Mutare City Rovers. Next is the Green Machine, who appear to be enjoying good form early into the season.
Silva, however, is not be intimidated as he seems to appreciate the importance of winning the Derby. “I have all the information (about CAPS United). I have the information about their last two games and we worked out for this, but you know, a Derby is a Derby. But I expect to win. If we don’t win this match then the win in Mutare was nothing.
“For me it’s important in two things. Firstly, it’s the three points and secondly, it’s an important game for both Dynamos and CAPS United. It’s one of the best in the country. “Dynamos and CAPS United are big teams and I respect the Dynamos fans. I want to give them three points.
“It’s important that we are starting to win and that the boys have started to score. The Mutare City game is now behind us and we focus on CAPS United. “I have been walking in the city the last three days with (Lloyd) Mutasa and I talked to the fans. The fans want a win; it’s very important to them. Everyone wants to win. But it’s the same if you talk to the CAPS United fans, everyone wants to beat Dynamos,” said Silva.
The excitement in the DeMbare camp was boosted during mid-week with the completion of Evans Gwekwerere’s move to the Glamour Boys. Gwekwerere has been training with the team for the past week but the Portuguese mentor yesterday cast a huge doubt on his chances of featuring in the Derby. He said the 31-year-old lacks match fitness and believes he is a great weapon in their campaign to reclaim the title.
“Everyone talks about Evans but if I put him in the team now he cannot play five minutes. He is not fit. He has not played football for the last three-and-half months. And who is Evans?
“I have King (Nasama); I have Richard (Kawondera); I have Kudzanayi (Nyakasaka) who have been playing for three months with me. “Evans is good and I am happy because the management got us one more striker. He is not Ronaldo but he is good. I don’t have Ronaldo, I don’t have Messi but I have Rodreck, I have Kudzanayi.
“I know with time he (Evans) will be very good for us but at this moment he can’t play. You saw him training, he cannot move but if the ball comes to his feet he keeps the ball and he plays. We will see what happens,” said Silva.
The Portuguese mentor, though, could be selling his opponents a dummy ahead of the Derby but, after he benched Mutuma last week, he should be a man who appears to stick to his word. The Herald
