It will be a tale of two loathed teams when Zimbabwe football giants Dynamos collide with Mozambican champions Liga Desportivo Muulmana De Maputo in a Caf Champions League first round, first leg match set for Campo Da Liga Muulmana this afternoon.
The match will kick-off at 3:30pm. Memories of Dynamos goalkeeper George Mandizvidzas gloves spate in 1998 still haunt Ferroviario fans so much so Dynamos are still hated in Maputo and will expect no favours from local fans never mind their hatred for Muulmana.
Muulmana is a four-year-old club which came on the scene splashing cash everywhere and creaming off local talent and have won more enemies than fans.
They have won the last two league titles and have just started defence of their league title. Many locals strongly believe Dynamos used juju in the match against Ferroviario thus the Glamour Boys are a hated lot.
So rich are owners of the club they have established a stadium for the tea, one that hosts this match.
But if this situation favours anyone then its Dynamos whose fans in this country have promised to come to the stadium in numbers while fans from Zimbabwe are also expected to be here today.
The work is cut out clearly for Dynamos to get a result they can make good use of in Harare in two weeks time.
But the task is by no means easy facing a team that boasts of at least eight players who feature regularly in the Mozambican national team.
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This is only their second appearance in this tournament after falling last year to Zambias Zanaco in the preliminary round. To sum up the job at hand, Dynamos goalkeeper Washington Arubi told NewsDay Sport this is a match where they have to put in everything and even be dirty if required.
The first 15 minutes will be very important for us. We know they will come at us, but we will do everything to get a positive result, said Arubi.
If we have to frustrate them then we will do that. The important thing is to make sure we survive the first 15 minutes and make sure they get desperate and lose rhythm, and then we can take advantage. We play to win, but its not a secret that we will be very cautious. We know we will play our brand when we host them.
The hosts had a few of their own dirty tricks where they denied Dynamos a training ground and the team had to use a park for their morning training session, but the players have said they were well prepared for that and would not be affected.
Other problems were to do with food where the hosts first refused to foot Dynamos food bill, but they later agreed and the team had its meals at the hotel.
Dynamos coach Calisto Pasuwa had his plans affected by the suspension of Guthrie Zhokinyu, but he will be banking on captain George Magariros experience to stabilise the defence.
They should not mourn about Zhokinyu as he was suspended last year and had to miss two games even before the other two were added.
David Kutyauripo sat out the morning session with a toe injury, but he was expected to play this afternoon as did striker Rodrick Mutuma who sat out feeling dizzy.
Veterans such as midfielder Murape Murape, Kutyauripo and Leo Kurauzvione will play an important part in this match where Pasuwa will invest more trust in experience than emerging talent.
But the likes of Denver Mukambas skills will be called in for DeMbares plan to hit the hosts on the break.
