Are the traditional giants still ruling Harare?

Eddie Chikamhi-Zimpapers Sports Hub

ARE the traditional football giants Dynamos and CAPS United still ruling in Harare or there is a new order that is being established?

This is a question that has boggled many football enthusiasts in the country as the old structure is under serious challenges from newly established and financially stable rivals.

This afternoon Dynamos will rekindle their burgeoning rivalries with Herentals, who have become more of a bogey side, while Makepekepe are bracing for a big challenge from newly promoted Scottland.

Unlike in the past when it was almost automatic that the odds were tipped in favour of the giants ahead of such clashes, both Dynamos and CAPS United know they have serious battles to fight this weekend.

Outmuscled during the pre-season transfer market tug-of-wars, DeMbare coach Lloyd Chigowe admitted the giants need to work harder to compensate for their inadequacies.

Chigowe pleaded with the Glamour Boys supporters to rally behind the team, especially as they try to look for solutions to their scoring woes.

“They are a very important component, and we need them in our corner all the time, 365 days a year,” said Chigowe.

“If you look at it, even a good side that creates so many chances like Manchester City, eventually had to look for Erling Haaland. Bayern Munich are an efficient machine, but they looked for Harry Kane.”

He believes DeMbare, who are rebuilding their side again this year after losing most of their key players, will be able to find a new hero.

Dynamos kicked off their 2025 campaign season by winning the Castle Challenge Cup before settling for a share of the spoils against ZPC Kariba last week. In both matches, they were unable to find the back of the nets in regulation time.

“We will try to find the solution from the squad that we have. Obviously, you know Khama Billiat and Walter Musona (both bought by Scottland) are out of our reach. Those are the most prolific finishers in the league.

“But I believe that from the ranks of these boys here, someone is going to emerge as a hero going forward. Coaching is about solving football problems.

“So, as part of our training, we have incorporated that element of solving the problem of teams who sit deep and play on the break.

“You can never be perfect probably in the first five to 10 games. When we get momentum going forward, I think we will be a unit to reckon with,” said Chigowe.

Interestingly, statistics are evenly balanced in the 10 games that Dynamos and Herentals have played since the latter was promoted in 2018. They have met 10 times with each side winning three, drawing four and losing three.

But Herentals, who were responsible for the sacking of Chigowe in 2019, have won more since the resumption of football after the Covid-19 disruptions.

However, coach Paul Benza was reserved ahead of this afternoon’s clash.

“Dynamos are now a changed side. They are totally different from the team we faced last year. But every year you find new players coming to every team, so we are prepared for whoever is going to come.

“We are not reading much into the new players or the old players that are there. We will just approach the game just like any other game.

“We don’t have any pressure getting into this match. Of course, we started really well by collecting the maximum points but obviously this is our second day test. We can’t put ourselves under any pressure,” said Benza.

While Dynamos and CAPS United opened their accounts with draws last week, Herentals and Scottland emerged victorious in their matches to go into this weekend’s encounters with their confidence high.

Herentals beat TelOne 2-1 at Rufaro last Saturday.

The following day, Scottland forced a 1-0 win over Triangle at the same venue, but the win did not come on a silver platter as coach Tonderai Ndiraya acknowledged.

Scottland have assembled a formidable squad; going after almost all the best players in the league last season including Soccer Star of the Year Walter Musona and his runners up Khama Billiat and Lynoth Chikuhwa.

“What we’ve been doing is to try and come up with combinations, good combinations that can sustain us the whole year,” said Ndiraya.

“Look at the team that we have. Those are players coming from different clubs who are starting to play with each other. Yes, some have played against each other before, but this is a newly assembled team.

“And naturally, you start to see the progress of it after playing a few games. So, I want to come back to the point of high expectations.

“Yes, because of the investment, but we don’t have a team yet. We’re still in the process of building a team. Hopefully in the next few matches, after a few games, those players will start to understand each other.

“They will start to play as a team. And then ultimately, last the distance,” said Ndiraya.

Ndiraya received a boost ahead of tomorrow’s match with the recovery of poster boy Billiat, midfielder Mthokozisi Msebe and Marvelous Chigumira who missed the opening fixture because of knocks.

It looks interesting as Makepekepe also welcome players like Juan Mutudza, Nyasha Chintuli, Eric Manokore and Hastings Chapusha who were not part of the team in last week’s 1-1 draw at GreenFuel.

“I think our next opponent Scottland are a very good side, they have seasoned players. So, it’s not in the name of the football club but what is within that football club,” said CAPS United coach Lloyd Chitembwe.

“So, when we look at the composition of the team, they have seasoned players and we are expecting a very tough competition because when you talk of Scottland squad, you are talking of the players that have been there and have done it in the past.

“I think at the end of the day it’s all about how we compete, and I strongly believe this time around, we have a strong squad that is capable of competing at this level.”

Fixtures

Today

Herentals v Dynamos (Rufaro), ZPC Kariba v Simba Bhora (Nyamhunga), TelOne v Triangle (Ascot Stadium), Ngezi Platinum v Greenfuel (Baobab), FC Platinum v Manica Diamonds (Mandava), Bikita Minerals v MWOS (Sakubva)

Tomorrow

CAPS United v Scottland (Rufaro), Highlanders v Kwekwe United (Barbourfields)