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Harare City seek revenge

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HARARE City’s quest to win the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) title in their second season in the top flight last year was halted

HARARE City’s quest to win the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) title in their second season in the top flight last year was halted in the cruellest of ways.

BY HENRY MHARA SPORTS REPORTER

Needing just three points in their final match of the season to be crowned champions, they were restricted to a 2-2 draw by Caps United on that “black” Sunday on November 11 at the giant National Sports Stadium, a result that handed the title to Dynamos.

There is no doubt that result still hurts the City Fathers up to this day.

Today, they have a chance to get some measure of revenge on their city rivals when the two sides meet at Rufaro Stadium this afternoon.

Relations between the two are already strained after City raided the Green Machine camp of two players — Arnold Chivheya and Benson Maglasi — in the off-season. The two clubs are coming into the match on the back of contrasting fortunes from the opening fixtures of the league last weekend.

City, despite their recruitment spree in the off-season which saw them adding eight new players to their squad, were simply blown away at Chicken Inn, while Caps United earned a point against newboys ZPC Kariba.

Caps are expected to welcome back into the fold their talismanic midfielder Hardlife Zvirekwi, while reports yesterday suggested that they had signed Kevin Bulaji until June and the player was likely to be handed his debut.

The match is the highlight of this weekend’s fixtures as the PSL continues almost without pausing for a breath following an eventful season opening last weekend.

Having romped to a 5-1 win over Buffaloes last weekend, Hwange will get a real test of their newfound virtuoso when they travel to Lloyd Mutasa’s FC Platinum. Focus will again fall on returning midfielder Rodwell Chinyengetere, who netted a brace in his first match since his horrific leg injury more than a year ago.

FC Platinum, who managed a point in their opening weekend fixture in Chiredzi, would be looking to hit the ground running with maximum points in this match. Then the Bulawayo derby between How Mine and Bantu Rovers set for Luveve Stadium completes the Saturday action.

The two teams will be looking for their first points of the season after identical 1-0 defeats to Dynamos and Black Rhinos respectively last week.

League champions Dynamos will be heavy favourites to claim maximum points against ZPC Kariba at the National Sports Stadium when action resumes tomorrow.

The Harare giants, who claimed maximum points away to How Mine, will be aiming to have a good start at their new base. They welcome back Tawanda Muparati, Ocean Mushure, Clive Kawinga and Tafadzwa Rusike from injury.

But Dynamos will have to be wary of their opponents who made a huge impression against Caps United, and will go into this one very confident that they can chalk another point, or possibly three.

Last season’s runners-up Highlanders are under pressure to get three points when they host Shabanie Mine at Barbourfields Stadium. The Bulawayo giants were held to a goalless draw by Chapungu last week and another result besides a win will be received with loud groans from their supporters.

A war is expected in Kadoma as army sides Black Rhinos and Chapungu clash at Rimuka Stadium and and the Chiredzi derby between Triangle and Chiredzi completes this weekend’s full programme.