HARARE giants Dynamos’ 10-match unbeaten run comes under scrutiny when they face inform Harare City in a potentially explosive Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Rufaro Stadium this afternoon.
TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA
The Sunshine City Boys have had a fairytale run in the campaign, having won their last four matches — against Black Mambas, Chicken Inn, Shabanie Mine and Triangle.
Bigboy Mawiwi’s men have stunned watchers of the beautiful game with their attacking brand of football which has seen them sharing second spot with Bulawayo giants Highlanders on the league table, with 20 points from 10 matches in the campaign after emerging 2-1 victors over Triangle in a match screened on Supersport last Friday.
It’s an incredible performance for a team promoted into the elite league just a year ago.
Now, they come face-to-face with the champions who are still to taste defeat this term.
Dynamos, who have also won their last four matches including the Harare derby against Caps United at the weekend, have drawn six times and are on fifth position with 18 points.
That Kalisto Pasuwa’s men are still unbeaten at this stage of the campaign is an intimidating record.
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But Mawiwi maintains that good run will come to an end.
Harare City stalled Dynamos’ march to the championship last season, albeit briefly, after avenging their defeat in the first encounter with an emotional 1-0 victory in the second meeting and are looking to throw a spanner in the works this afternoon.
“It’s a pleasure to be playing against the champions. We are underdogs. We are just two years old in the league now and have nothing to lose. We are growing up and are not under pressure. That allows us to play our normal game.
“It’s Dynamos who have everything to lose. As defending champions, they are under pressure. We are looking forward to the match and hope to get maximum points,” Mawiwi said yesterday.
Mawiwi will, however, be without veteran full-back David Kutyauripo, who is still injured. Defender Tendai Tigere is also injured and has been ruled out although he resumed training yesterday.
Kutyauripo, deemed excess baggage at Dynamos, has been in top form since joining the Sunshine City Boys at the start of the season and has been showing them what they were missing.
Martin Vengesayi and Nathan Ziwini, also former Dynamos players, will be seeking to show that they are not second-rate players.
Osborne Mukuradare, who is second on the goalscorers’ charts with five goals, will be seeking to carry his form into today’s tie against the champions.
However, with log leaders FC Platinum and second-placed Highlanders having dropped points in their respective matches and Dynamos buoyed by their victory over bitter rivals Caps United at the weekend, DeMbare have a perfect opportunity to close the gap, if not move to the top.
Team manager Richard Chihoro admitted it would be a difficult encounter.
“It will be a tough match. Harare City have given us problems in the past because they are a very good side. We have reached a stage where everyone wants to be in the top four. We are going to witness a tight contest,” Chihoro said.
