DeMbare, Makepekepe resume rivalry

Sport
BY FANUEL VIRIRI TEN wins for CAPS United, five victories for Dynamos and seven draws in 22 premiership matches is how the Harare derby panned out in the last 10 years.

Pride and passion of the two clubs collide at the National Sports Stadium as the Green Machine and DeMbare fight for bragging rights today.

While Makepekepe boast of having the most league wins (10) over their fiercest rivals in the last decade, they still have fresh memories of their last defeat to the Glamour Boys, which came in May last year.

The Green Machine were whacked 2-1 and DeMbare got the 2010 bragging rights. The teams drew nil-all in the reverse fixture in one of the seven stalemates in the last 10 years.

CAPS United last beat DeMbare in a premiership match on April  13 2009 when they pummelled them into submission with a 2-0 win before drawing one-all in the reverse fixture.

The derby has been intensely fought in the last 10 years but Makepekepe recorded the highest scoreline over DeMbare. The Green Machine decimated DeMbare 4-2 on May 27 2001.

DeMbare recorded their highest scoreline over CAPS United, in the premiership in the last 10 years on April 9 2000, when they won 3-0. The teams have played seven draws, three of these goalless and four outings ending in one-all draws in the last decade showing the intensity of the battles.

There is so much pride to protect in the derby as CAPS United coach Moses Chunga said the consequences of losing to DeMbare were “unbearable”.CAPS United have also bagged the premiership titles two times (2004 and 2005) in the last 10 years, while DeMbare won the big prize once in 2007 in the last decade.

DeMbare and Makepekepe are not having a rosy season but the formbook is normally thrown out of  the window when they clash.

CAPS have raked 21 points in 13 outings while DeMbare have collected 19 points from the same number of games.

The Dynamos and CAPS class of 2011 know the importance of the derby and their coaches Moses Chunga and Lloyd Mutasa have been stressing that to their players.

The meeting of Moses Chunga and Lloyd Mutasa has been characterised in some quarters as the grandmaster against the novice —  and the gulf in managerial experience is enormous.

At 44, Mutasa is only three years Chunga’s junior.

But Chunga took charge of several premiership sides and won the league title with Gunners in 2009 and was subsequently voted the best coach.

Mutasa is a greenhorn in coaching and is currently in the pressure cooker at DeMbare having taken the reins from Elvis “Chuchu” Chiweshe.

However, the derby presents a chance for Chunga and Mutasa to convince their club followers that they are up to scratch by beating their bitter rivals.

CAPS United score an average of 2.43 goals per match at home and boasts of the country’s leading sniper Simba Sithole, who has banged in 10 goals and will be one of the players under the spotlight.

DeMbare score an average of 0.71 goals per league match and do not have the sharpest of strikers, but have the exciting and slippery Denver Mukamba. Then there is the beanpole striker Roderick Mutuma, who can bang them in on song. A gem player maker called Archford Gutu has been on top of his game and is bound to tilt the game in DeMbare’s favour.

DeMbare recorded their highest scoreline over CAPS United, in the premiership in the last 10 years on April 9 2000, when they won 3-0. The teams have played seven draws, three of these goalless and four outings ending in one-all draws in the last decade showing the intensity of the battles.There is so much pride to protect in the derby as CAPS United coach Moses Chunga said the consequences of losing to DeMbare were “unbearable”.CAPS United have also bagged the premiership titles two times (2004 and 2005) in the last 10 years, while DeMbare won the big prize once in 2007 in the last decade.DeMbare and Makepekepe are not having a rosy season but the formbook is normally thrown out of  the window when they clash. CAPS have raked 21 points in 13 outings while DeMbare have collected 19 points from the same number of games.The Dynamos and CAPS class of 2011 know the importance of the derby and their coaches Moses Chunga and Lloyd Mutasa have been stressing that to their players.The meeting of Moses Chunga and Lloyd Mutasa has been characterised in some quarters as the grandmaster against the novice —  and the gulf in managerial experience is enormous. At 44, Mutasa is only three years Chunga’s junior. But Chunga took charge of several premiership sides and won the league title with Gunners in 2009 and was subsequently voted the best coach.Mutasa is a greenhorn in coaching and is currently in the pressure cooker at DeMbare having taken the reins from Elvis “Chuchu” Chiweshe.However, the derby presents a chance for Chunga and Mutasa to convince their club followers that they are up to scratch by beating their bitter rivals. CAPS United score an average of 2.43 goals per match at home and boasts of the country’s leading sniper Simba Sithole, who has banged in 10 goals and will be one of the players under the spotlight.DeMbare score an average of 0.71 goals per league match and do not have the sharpest of strikers, but have the exciting and slippery Denver Mukamba. Then there is the beanpole striker Roderick Mutuma, who can bang them in on song. A gem player maker called Archford Gutu has been on top of his game and is bound to tilt the game in DeMbare’s favour.