Harare comes to a standstill this afternoon, when sworn enemies CAPS United and Dynamos cross swords in the 70th edition of their league derby at the National Sports Stadium.
REPORT BY BY MICHAEL MADYIRA
The match kicks off at 2pm to allow live coverage on Supersport 9.
Dynamos are unbeaten in seven straight derby duels since Makepekepe’s last triumph on April 12 2009, when a Nyasha Mushekwi second half brace sank the Glamour Boys.
Dynamos could be enjoying dominance over their arch-rivals in recent years, but CAPS United ironically hold the decade’s bragging rights with seven wins against DeMbare’s six, while other clashes have ended in seven draws.
Victory for Dynamos this afternoon would level matters to a stalemate record over the past 10 years.
Besides wanting to preserve their 10-year supremacy over Dynamos, CAPS United would also be seeking to reclaim lost glory marked by a seven-year league title drought.
Interestingly, Dynamos have claimed three titles during this torrid period for CAPS United. Makepekepe last lifted the country’s ultimate football prize in 2005, a season they completed back-to-back wins over DeMbare with similar 2-1 score-lines.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
The derby, whose reverberation would undoubtedly be felt beyond the country’s borders, will see Dynamos’ intention centred on reasserting their recent dominance over CAPS, while also seeking to defend their Premiership title.
Fifth-placed and unbeaten Dynamos have had a slow start to the season and feel hard done by the loss of 12 crucial points in six draws after labouring to just three wins.
The Green Machine sits just one rung below DeMbare with the same number of points (15) and also feel hard done by four defeats that have rendered them to an inferior goal difference despite five wins.
CAPS coach Taurai Mangwiro, ironically a former Dynamos player, admits they are under pressure.
“We expect a fierce contest because of the great rivalry that exists between these two teams. We have to win this match,” said Mangwiro.
“The pressure is on us due to the fact that we have been struggling to beat them of late. But I have been telling the players not to put themselves under pressure because this is their opportunity to market themselves on such a big stage.”
This afternoon, more focus will fall on the Premiership’s current football soundtrack Washington Pakamisa whose sensational six goals in the last four matches is undoubtedly a cause for concern in his former club’s camp.
Dumped after being regarded as excess baggage by CAPS, Pakamisa’s three-month association with the Glamour Boys has recently been colourful after a horrible start. The striker was full of running during Friday’s training session to allay fears of a serious groin injury.
Interestingly, it would be Dynamos reject, George Magariro who would be tasked to police Pakamisa and could be up for the task, drawing from his steely performance at the centre of United’s defence so far.
Dynamos coach Kalisto Pasuwa, a veteran of many Harare derbies during his time as a player, appears to be pinning all his hopes on Pakamisa.
“He is a good player and we expect him to shine on such an occasion. But we do not want to put him under pressure,” said Pasuwa.
“During my time as a player, I realised that a derby is unpredictable. You may be off form in the previous games but you can suddenly rise up on derby day,” he said.
While Pakamisa is the only Dynamos player who appears on the league’s top-goal scorers chart, CAPS boast of strikers Dominic Chungwa and Leonard Fiyado who have four and three goals respectively.
Midfielder, Hardlife Zvireki has also been on target thrice.
Mangwiro could be a happy man with the availability of his preferred central defence partnership of Magariro and Arnold Chiveya, with fullbacks Ronald Pfumbidzai and captain Tapiwa Khumbuyani on the left and right side respectively.
Returning Dynamos skipper Murape Murape’s presence however might not make any difference as he has made very little impact in Dynamos’ cause this season.
Tawanda Muparati’s derby scoring tendencies could haunt CAPS while Ugandan international Boban Ziruntusa would need steely nerves as he plunges into his first derby duel.
