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Harare Derby: Time to settle scores-Mangwiro

Sport
CAPS United coach Taurai Mangwiro believes the Harare derby against Dynamos at Rufaro on Sunday is a perfect opportunity to settle the burning issue

CAPS United coach Taurai Mangwiro believes the Harare derby against Dynamos at Rufaro on Sunday is a perfect opportunity to settle the burning issue of supremacy between the two.

REPORT BY TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA

The encounters between the two teams have always been close and feisty and the 71st edition of the Harare derby at Rufaro on Sunday is likely to be no exception.

With both teams enjoying top form and separated by just three points on the league table in the championship race- an intriguing battle is on the cards.

Dynamos are on top of the league table with 38 points from 20 matches following their victory over Harare City whom they dislodged from the top while United are fourth with 35 points from the same number of games.

Caps United are also aware that they have not won against the defending champions in a league match in the past four years and after an impressive run which has seen them go for ten matches without defeat, they are more motivated to break the long standing hoodoo. They are aware too, the derby clash could have a major bearing on the championship this season.

Mangwiro said: “We have a very good chance. We have been playing well and the good thing is that we are aware there is no one who can beat Dynamos for us. We can’t wait for other teams to do it for us. We have to do the job ourselves. It will not be an easy match but everyone is raring to go. We have started training today (Tuesday) since our last game against Triple B and are looking forward to the match,” said Mangwiro.

However, Caps United last beat Dynamos way back in 2009 when Nyasha Mushekwi scored a brace to power his team to a memorable victory.

In 2010, the two teams drew 0-0 in the first encounter before Dynamos won 2-1 in the second meeting. In 2011 Dynamos triumphed 2-1 and 1-0 in their league meetings.

The following year, the Glamour Boys overpowered Caps United in the first meeting of the season before registering a comprehensive 3-0 victory in the second round of the championship race.

This season, the Green Machine have already capitulated losing 1-0 courtesy of a penalty taken by midfielder Devon Chafa at the National Sports Stadium.

Chafa will however, miss the derby as he serves his one month suspension by world soccer governing body Fifa for testing positive to a prohibited substance.

But whoever will take to the field on Sunday is aware of the significance of this encounter.

Fixtures

Saturday: Chicken Inn v Black Rhinos (Luveve), Tripple B v Hwange (Dulibadzimu), Shabanie Mine v Motor Action (Maglas) Sunday: How Mine v Highlanders (Barbourfields), Dynamos v Caps United (Rufaro), Triangle v Harare City (Gibbo), FC Platinum v Monomotapa (Mandava) Ends ckd/wt