RARELY in world football has two players sharing a name and surname faced each in other in a match.
HENRY MHARA
That will be the case when Dynamos host How Mine in a Mbada Diamonds Cup quarter-final match at Rufaro Stadium tomorrow.
It will be the tale of the Simba Sitholes as the two strikers try to outshine each other and help their respective teams progress to the next round of the country’s richest knock-out tournament.
However, Dynamos’ Sithole’s involvement in this match will depend on him getting a clearance letter from Zifa.
Dynamos manager Richard Chihoro was yesterday making frantic efforts to get the papers done in time for the match.
“There are some few papers that need to be sorted out with Zifa, but he (Sithole) should be available for the match,” Chihoro said. On the other hand, How Mine’s Sithole would be looking to make it a double over Dynamos, having scored the solitary goal that made the difference when the two teams met in a reverse league match at Luveve Stadium in July.
The first-ever meeting between the two sides was in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Rufaro Stadium on June 23. The Harare giants were 3-0 comfortable winners.
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Two weeks later, How Mine got their revenge by inflicting a second league defeat to the league champions.
And while the scoreline was not as huge and embarrassing as in the reverse fixture, it did put a huge dent on Dynamos’ title ambitions as they slumped to fourth on the log after that defeat. A huge crowd is expected to fill the Mbare stadium as the Premier Soccer League has maintained the $1 gate charge for the match on the face of demands by some clubs, this week, including Dynamos who wanted the fee to be reviewed upwards.
Dynamos’ confidence ahead tomorrow’s encounter has taken a painful dent following a 4-2 whacking at Hwange before a barren draw against relegation threatened Monomotapa last week.
Coach Kalisto Pasuwa tore into his players on Wednesday at the team’s training ground, demanding answers — and a reaction.
Players were barred from talking to the media, from gallivanting in town after training as well as switching off their cellphones on match days.
Pasuwa clearly wants total concentration from his troops.
“The players have recovered very well. They are in good spirits and looking forward to the match — and we will definitely bounce back on Sunday (tomorrow),” Chihoro said.
Dynamos’ major problems in recent weeks have been upfront as goals have suddenly dried up and the return of Sithole should give them some hope.
How Mine are also going into the match with their confidence hugely on the low side following a surprise 3-0 lose to Black Rhinos last week.
However, coach Philani Ncube said cup games are different. He believes their underdog tag in this battle might give them an advantage.
“We are going there as underdogs so we are not under pressure at all. Being in the quarterfinals is an achievement for us on its own,” Ncube said.
“Dynamos have defended the title twice and are out to make history by winning it for the third time so it will be them who will be under pressure.”
