BY MUNYARADZI MADZOKERE
THEIR starts to the season couldn’t have been more contrasting with the ghost of last season’s relegation fight still stalking Dynamos while CAPS United look like genuine contenders for the 2019 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title.
And the fact that they will both be playing in Harare on the same day, something of a rarity in domestic football, adds further intrigue to week five of the top-flight league.
The two Harare giants are set to divide the capital today, with unbeaten CAPS United facing a tricky home tie against Harare City at the National Sports Stadium while the Glamour Boys host ZPC Kariba in new coach Tonderayi Ndiraya’s Rufaro homecoming since his recent return.
Ndiraya’s last match as Dynamos coach at Rufaro Stadium ended in a 2-0 win over Chapungu, with Walter Mukanga and Takesure Chinyama scoring the vital goals.
Three-and-a-half years later, the former Ngezi Platinum Stars coach returns to Rufaro Stadium in the DeMbare dugout in his first home assignment for the club against high-flying ZPC Kariba this afternoon.
Ndiraya, who had a largely successful two- year stint with Ngezi Platinum, is looking to win his first match since his sensational return to Dynamos last week.
“It’s going to be an emotional return to Rufaro for me. I have been here in the opposite dugout, but this time around I am returning in the hot seat. It is going to be exciting and I hope that the excitement is going to bring us a result,” Ndiraya said.
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“I was part of the system even when I was outside and I have said that I am happy to return home. I expect a very warm reception, and that warm reception will make me feel at home. At the same time it will also put pressure on me because at the end of the day what is important is the result that we are going to get.”
Hopes are high among the DeMbare faithful that Ndiraya will build an air of invincibility for the Harare giants at the ceremonial home of local football as he did for Ngezi at Baobab.
The Zimbabwe Under-23 coach went on 31-match unbeaten run in the league at Baobab Stadium between August 2016 and June 2018, ending with a 2-1 loss to FC Platinum.
But Ndiraya, who kicked off his second Dynamos reign with a hard-fought one-all draw away to newcomers TelOne at Barbourfields last week, will have to plot a win without a number of key players.
Versatile defender Godfrey Mukambi is suspended after picking up a red card last week, while Cameroonians Herve Vincent Mbega and Ngahan Claude Junior are out injured.
However, captain Edward Sadomba returns to the fold after serving his suspension following a red card against Chicken Inn a fortnight ago.
While Dynamos will be seeking to revive their faltering campaign, just 7,4km away at the National Sports Stadium, CAPS United, who are yet to taste defeat in the league marathon, will be eager to continue their fine run against the Sunshine Boys.
Makepekepe have fond memories of their last home fixture after posting their biggest win of the campaign thus far, a 4-1 thrashing of basement side Bulawayo Chiefs last Sunday.
CAPS United coach Lloyd Chitembwe said he was anticipating a tough encounter against the Mark Harrison-coached Harare City side, but was confident his charges would get a positive result.
“Like I have always said, Premier League games are never easy games and Harare City are no different, we anticipate a very difficult game, but at the same time we are looking forward to it. We have done well in terms of preparations and I’m sure we have the ambition to go out there and compete and hopefully get a result,” Chitembwe said.
The Sunshine Boys, who have won twice and lost three times in their first five matches this season, are coming from a 2-1 defeat to Black Rhinos and will be eager to return to winning ways.
