TWO of the country’s biggest clubs Dynamos and Highlanders will resume their rivalry when they clash in what promises to be a fierce second leg tie of the Bob 89 Super Cup final at Rufaro Stadium on Sunday. HENRY MHARA/SUKOLUHLE MTHETHWA
Dynamos have one hand firmly on the Cup following their 2-1 first leg win and captain Tawanda Muparati has described the match as “must-win”, while Highlanders gaffer Kelvin Kaindu believes it would be a “disaster” if his club were to lose the match.
Muparati and Patrick Khumbula got the goals that put Dynamos in the comfort zone whereas Highlanders will be looking at Beaven Chikaka’s goal for inspiration.
Winners of the cup played to celebrate the birthday of President Robert Mugabe, who turns 89 today, will get $100 000 while the losers will get $15 000 less.
Muparati said his team will not sit back.
The former Douglas Warriors player, who scored a cracker of a goal in Dynamos’ 3-0 first leg win over Lesotho Correctional Service in the Caf Champions League four days ago, said the Highlanders match will be a dress rehearsal for the return leg in Maseru.
“We have two away goals, but that does not mean we will play a defensive game,” Muparati said.
“Highlanders are chasing the game and there is no doubt that they will come at us from the start. We are preparing for such a scenario and the only way we can counter that is to also play in a high tempo. We will try to score first to unsettle them. We regrouped on Tuesday after our match on Sunday and so far preparations have been going on well.”
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Kaindu felt his club was just unlucky to lose in the first leg.
“We have been trying to work on our finishing because that is where we lacked in the first leg. It is going to be a very tough game because we did not capitalise on home advantage at Barbourfields. But from what I have seen, players are putting maximum effort (in training). We are definitely heading somewhere,” Kaindu said.
While Dynamos are flying high after their recent triumph in the Champions League, Highlanders are reeling, not only from the first leg defeat at the hands of their bitter rivals, but were also beaten by South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns and Central Region Division One side Gwanda Ramblers.
And another defeat would be unacceptable to their host of fans.
“It would put us in a disastrous situation. But if you remember last season we lost our pre-season friendly games and no one gave us a chance, but we did well when the season started. What is important is to learn from those mistakes. The only difference between us and Dynamos is that they were hungrier than us for goals. They capitalised on the few moments when we lost concentration.”
The first leg match was marred by violence with reports of clashes between both team supporters after the match.
Kaindu believes such acts should stop.
“I would like to urge all fans to desist from violence. I am one person who will always encourage peace no matter what the outcome of the match,” he said.
The good news in the Highlanders camp is the return to training of Erick Mudzingwa who missed the first leg through injury, but the bad news is that Bhekimpilo Ncube is limping and might miss the bus to Harare.
Kaindu confirmed that former Caps United striker Nqobile Mpala was training with the team, but could not divulge much on the player’s impression at training so far.
As for Dynamos, Ocean Mushure has resumed training after missing the Lesotho Correctional Service match. The roving left-back will be up for selection, and so will ex-Caps United striker Washington Pakamisa who completed his move to the Blue side of Harare yesterday.
Dynamos manager Richard Chihoro said Clive Kawinga is also recovering well from an injury although the Sunday match will come a bit too early for the former Caps United man.
