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NewsDay

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A prettily poised derby

Sport
HARARE’s big two Dynamos and Caps United posted crucial victories in their respective Premier Soccer League games on Sunday, ensuring the city derby this Sunday is perfectly poised, with the match also seen as a bench-marking exercise for both coaches, Jorge Paulo Silva and Lloyd Chitembwe.

HARARE’s big two Dynamos and Caps United posted crucial victories in their respective Premier Soccer League games on Sunday, ensuring the city derby this Sunday is perfectly poised, with the match also seen as a bench-marking exercise for both coaches, Jorge Paulo Silva and Lloyd Chitembwe.

BY TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA

Caps United were pushed all the way by Harare City, who frustrated them with some stoic displays and deservedly raced into the lead after two minutes with Honey Chimutimunzeve finding the opener.

Dynamos forward Rodreck Mutuma
Dynamos forward Rodreck Mutuma

But to their credit, Caps maintained composure to edge City 2-1 through goals by Joel “Josta” Ngodzo and Dominic Chungwa.

Dynamos, too, needed a late strike from substitute Rodreck Mutuma to secure maximum points against newly-promoted Mutare City after Kudzanai Nyakasaka had given them the lead six minutes into the match.

A goal at the death by Kudakwashe Gurure could not prevent Dynamos from bagging maximum points, to make it Silva’s first victory in six matches.

Both clubs might have been lifted by their respective wins.

For Caps, a win against Harare City represents a good result, considering that the municipal side is one of those expected to challenge for the title.

Dynamos, who had failed to win in their first two matches, finally got the monkey off their back and they hope to kick on from here, even though that win was against Mutare City, who shipped seven goals in their first two matches.

Tension has been high in the capital as Silva struggled to arrest the slippery slide.

From left: Caps United players Hardlife Zvirekwi, Ronald Pfumbidzai, Dominic Chungwa and Joel Ngodzo
From left: Caps United players Hardlife Zvirekwi, Ronald Pfumbidzai, Dominic Chungwa and Joel Ngodzo

Not everyone is convinced that he is the best man to lead Dynamos and the match against Caps United is probably judgment day for him if he is to stay on at the club.

Tonderai Ndiraya was dismissed at Dynamos after he presided over the team’s second-place finish, a clear testimony of how the job is demanding.

Prior to Sunday, Silva was sitting on a three-match ultimatum.

He got one out of the way, but he would know all too well that the real test is on this Sunday.

He denied being given any ultimatum even though his bosses went public about it last week.

“The ultimatum, I am hearing it from you. We play to win every match and pressure is part of football,” he said. “Dynamos are a big club, so there is always going to be pressure.”

Caps United have invested so much since Harare businessman Farai Jere took over ownership of the team and naturally, the club hierarchy will be expecting a lot from the Green Machine, particularly in this match and Chitembwe knows that this is the most-sought-after set of three points in the Makepekepe family.

The Caps fans know that a win on Sunday could also trigger turmoil in their rivals’ camp and they crave for any opportunity to rub salt into Dynamos’ wounds.

Caps United have been experiencing a renaissance under Chitembwe, who has had an impressive start to the season, where his club remains unbeaten, with two wins and a draw, but that will pale into insignificance if he fails to break the long-standing hoodoo against Dynamos.

The Green Machine have a poor record against Dynamos, stretching back to April 2009.

They have not beaten their city rivals since that year when a Nyasha Mushekwi double helped them to a comfortable 2-0 win. It remains to be seen whether the Green Machine will break the jinx.