Last weekend’s fierce Harare derby was a show of arch-hostility between CAPS United and Dynamos.
BY MICHAEL MADYIRA
All week in the run-up to the derby, Harare was divided between blue and green with an atmosphere of enmity characterising the city.
Dynamos won the derby and that upped United’s resentment over their neighbours.
But all that changed late last week when CAPS United players staged a strike in protest of unpaid salaries and bonuses.
It was a rare sight to see Dynamos fans singing in the corner of their old foes in sympathy to the players’ plight.
What made everything grim was a bold statement made by the players when they turned to the club’s former chief financier Farai Jere seeking help.
Making the situation piteous was Jere’s stance to order staff at his offices to turn away the players who had invested their trust in him as their last hope.
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But in an unusual united stance, most Dynamos fans pitied the CAPS players.
While a few others however taunted the players, most DeMbare fans could not hide their sympathy, especially on social media networks.
“I am DeMbare but I feel sorry for the CAPS players,” wrote Yvone Ncube on a popular Facebook football page.
“Seriously, guys I am touched. This kind of administration reduces players to beggars and it is bad for soccer. We won’t go far I tell you,” Lumumba Chipuriro wrote.
“It’s a sorry situation. We hope the powers that be will act sooner rather than later, I am DeMbare but I feel for these guys, this not a good development. CAPS are our lovely noise opponents, not enemies,” said Patson Mako.
“Ndiri muDeMbare hangu asi ndabatikana nenyaya iyi [I am a DeMbare fan but I have been touched]. Sorry guys,” Kuku Mudirira said.
Willie Muchedzi wrote: “It pains us all as soccer fans.”
CAPS United chief executive officer Joe Makuvire said they held a meeting with the players on Friday and said the situation was blown out of proportion.
“Our team manager [Gideon Mubayi] and the coaches addressed the players on Friday. They were just enlightening them about the politics that came into play and advised them to concentrate on playing football. The situation was not as bad as was portrayed,” said Makuvire. But messages of sympathy from Dynamos fans kept pouring in with some acknowledging that CAPS is a club that forces them to perform well.
Chamunorwa Phiri wrote: “My blood is blue for sure but panguva yakadai zvinonzi chemai nevanochema mugofara nevanofara saka dai taisa musoro pamwe chete nekuti league isina CAPS haingafadze rinenge ririsadza risina muriwo kutemura chaiko.
Peter Mudzimu: “We are Dembareans but it’s sad to hear that. We always enjoy these Harare derbies simply because things are well at CAPS and even now, we just hope God will intervene and settle the dust down.”
Pedzisai Mhondera: “I am DeMbare pure but what is happening at CAPS can happen to anyone. It’s a very sad situation. Let’s pray for them. Maybe things will get better.”
Luckyday Chakauya: Pari panyaya dzemari pandibata ipai vana mari dzavo. Zvinorwadza kana neni muDeMbare.
Lazarus Musarurwa: “DeMbare for life but here l shed a tear for you Kepekepe guys! It’s bad and sad for our football.”
Standardsport watched United’s training session on Wednesday, a day before the players decided to stage their strike.
Smart from the derby defeat to Dynamos, the players looked jovial and it appeared their house was in order and coach Taurai Mangwiro said he was trying to instill confidence in the players.
“We have to recover from this defeat and not let it affect us in upcoming matches,” Mangwiro said.
