Was the Harare derby fixed?

Sport
The result of the Harare derby between CAPS United and Dynamos became a subject of debate in the streets and in bars as many could not believe what they had seen or heard.

The result of the Harare derby between CAPS United and Dynamos became a subject of debate in the streets and in bars as many could not believe what they had seen or heard.

insidesport with MICHAEL KARIATI

Dynamos midfielder Brett Amidu and Caps United’s Devon Chafa tussle for possession during the Harare derby at the National Sports Stadium last Sunday.
Dynamos midfielder Brett Amidu and Caps United’s Devon Chafa tussle for possession during the Harare derby at the National Sports Stadium last Sunday.

As CAPS United fans celebrated their greatest comeback, rumourmongers — and there were too many of them — started spreading word that the game had been fixed.

Social media was awash with allegations that the match was fixed to prevent Highlanders topping the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League table.

Some like Lugano Mwasangwale got confused by the turn of events. Mwasangwale wrote: “You are watching Caps United play Dynamos on TV and in the 86th minute you get up to visit the loo as Dynamos is leading 3-0. You come back in the 90th minute, and find the teams are drawing 3-3. Won’t you suspect that your decoder has been hit by a virus?”

Others like Julius Mudekunye posed questions: “The result of the Harare derby has more questions than answers. Is Caps United that brilliant or is it that Dynamos are pathetic in defence?”

However, some like Misheck Muchedzi dismissed the rumours: “People just talk. That was one of the most exciting games to be played this season. It was played in a fair atmosphere and the result is a reflection of what the two teams offered.”

CAPS United fan Gideon Muza was straight to the point, “If it was Real Madrid, that result would have been possible. Now that it is CAPS United, then it cannot be done. That is our mentality, we do not believe in what we can do.”

However, whatever the theories, the result stands and the point garnered from that draw has kept CAPS United top of the table on 54 points, one ahead of Highlanders.

The point picked also saw Dynamos drop a point behind fourth-placed ZPC Kariba with 40 points, while “Katuruturu” are on 41 points.

Unfortunately, the phrase “match-fixing” has become daily bread for some in Zimbabwean football. The question is: How and through what means in those four minutes could the two teams have connived to grind a draw?

The manner in which Dynamos continued to attack after scoring three goals and more importantly, Murape Murape’s premature celebration antics do not point to a fixed result.

That Dynamos coach Lloyd Mutasa substituted strikers for strikers even at a time his team was leading 3-0 was meant at adding more goals to the three that the team had already banged in.

Mutasa wanted to hit CAPS United to death with an avalanche of goals, a strategy which unfortunately turned out to be his downfall.

It is good to give credit where it is due. CAPS United deserve a pat on the back for their great comeback — probably the greatest in Zimbabwean football history.

Even if they do not win the league championship, they will reflect on that Harare derby and say “what a performance it was!”

For Dynamos, they will continue to struggle to figure out what hit them when all looked theirs for the taking. Those who were at the match hope there will be more exciting Harare derbies like the one they witnessed at the National Sports Stadium on October 16.

Warriors can do it

Now that the draw for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations has been conducted and Zimbabwe know who their opponents are, it is time that the team put in full force their preparations with their opponents in mind.

For those not in the know, the Warriors are in the same group with former champions Algeria and Tunisia as well as Senegal in Group B where only two teams progress to the quarter finals.

Algeria won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1990 and were runners up in 1980, while Tunisia won the tournament in 2004 and were runners up in 1965 and 1966.

That the Algerians’ last Nations Cup success came way back in 1990 and Tunisia last won the competition 12 years ago means the architects of those successes have since retired and long gone.

This means the current crop of the Algerian and Tunisian national soccer teams have achieved nothing notable.

Also of interest is the fact that both Algeria and Tunisia won the Africa Cup of Nations the year they hosted the tournament when they had the advantage of playing at home.

As for Senegal, they only have a place in the Nations Cup final of 2002 to talk of, and nothing more.

The Algerians are ranked second in Africa, with Senegal third and Tunisia fourth, but these rankings are based on performance already gone by. The Nations Cup will be a new tournament altogether, where rankings do not enter the field of play.

It should also be put on record that all these teams will not be playing Zimbabwe alone but will also cancel each other.

From the outset, Group B looks like a tough one. However, it is one that can be negotiated through if the right things are done prior to the start of the 16-team contest.

On that premise, it is now up to Phillip Chiyangwa and Zimbabweans as a whole to ensure that the Warriors are well-prepared and ready for the African challenge.

For your comments, views and suggestions email [email protected] or WhatsApp on 077 3 266 779.