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Save me: Mutasa

Sport
AS troubled Dynamos prepare for their biggest and probably the most important match this season against number one enemy Caps United, coach Lloyd Mutasa (pictured) has called on his side to prove doubters wrong.

AS troubled Dynamos prepare for their biggest and probably the most important match this season against number one enemy Caps United, coach Lloyd Mutasa (pictured) has called on his side to prove doubters wrong.

BY HENRY MHARA

The match at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday could have huge repercussions on the DeMbare coach’s future.

Mutasa has started the season in a worst possible position, with just three points from a possible 18, and knows the knives are out following the dismal opening to their campaign.

Critics have already written the Harare giants off the title race, with some even suggesting that Mutasa would not survive beyond the Big Harare derby.

He admits that pressure is slowly building on him and his team, but sees the game against Caps United as a perfect opportunity to prove naysayers wrong.

“We want to prove to the doubting Thomases that we have the team good enough to do better than what we did last year. If you beat a team like Caps United, it will be a mark towards that direction, telling the doubters that we have a team capable of competing,” Mutasa told the Press after the team’s training session yesterday.

Dynamos finished second last season, two points behind eventual winners FC Platinum.

But they are already 13 points behind the same team, which currently sit atop, with only six games into the season.

They had an almost similar start to their campaign last term, something that gives Mutasa hope that the path would be smoothened.

“We have three points, and it’s not good for us. We would want to atone for that by giving a good display, and get the three points (against Caps United) although we know it’s going to be another tough assignment. We expect to rise in this derby match,” he said.

“These youngsters really know what it means meeting Caps United during this time. It’s a match that would give us confidence if we manage to get a positive result. We have been longing for a positive result. We have done what is supposed to be done and this is a game that we should get the desired result.”

This big match promises to produce many subplots in it, but it is the presence of Caps’ star Denver Mukamba, on loan from Dynamos, that is likely to be the most intriguing.

Deemed an unnecessary problem at DeMbare, mainly for indiscipline, Mukamba, who has been allowed to face his parent club this weekend, is still bitter over the manner he was shipped out. The talismanic midfielder will obviously be desperate to prove his former paymasters wrong.

Mutasa, though, is not losing sleep over the star.

“We not worried about an individual. We have played against former Dynamos sons before, and we know what he can do, but we are looking at Caps United as a team. They are a good team, strong team,” he said.

“It’s going to be tough, but we are ready for this one. These are the sort of matches that players don’t have to be pushed. They know what it entails to beat Caps United and they are working so hard to prove their worth.”

The good news in the Dynamos camp ahead of the match is the return to full fitness of almost all the players who have been nursing injuries, including Peace Makaha and Emmanuel Mandiranga.

Marvellous Mukumba started full training this week, but the Sunday game could have come a bit too early for him.

“It’s a healthy situation, when you choose a team from the bulk of the players that you registered. That is what we had wanted from the onset. We are happy that we have all the players, and more so, they are ready to play in this derby,” Mutasa said.

Weekend fixtures

Tomorrow: Harare City v Black Rhinos (Rufaro), ZPC Kariba FC Vs Chicken Inn (Nyamhunga), Bulawayo City v Triangle United (Barbourfields), Yadah v Nichrut (National Sports Stadium), Ngezi Platinum v Mutare City Rovers (Baobab), Bulawayo Chiefs v FC Platinum (Luveve)

Sunday: Caps United v Dynamos (National Sports Stadium), Highlanders v Shabanie Mine (Barbourfields), Chapungu v Herentals (Ascot)