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If the last few weeks since the tumultuous and ultimately abandoned tie between soccer titans Highlanders and Dynamos have taught the nation anything, it is that Zimbabweans are passionate about their soccer.
Wherever one goes, debate about the acrimonious tie still rages, with many taking different views about a match which, instead of being a spectacle, ended up as a bad advertisement for the local game.
On social media and in beer halls, the refereea��s decisions have been dissected as fans try to make sense of what happened on that fateful day. With all that passion and dedication in mind, one should spare a thought for another one of the countrya��s football giants, Caps United.
While they might not have been involved in the blood and thunder encounter between Bosso and DeMbare, there is no doubt that the boys in green deserve a mention alongside those two.
Indeed, Caps United and Dynamos or Caps United and Highlanders matches have, if not the same passion, the same animosity and verve that typifies encounters witnessed when soccer giants around the world meet.
A clash between Caps United and Dynamos is top billing in the local top flight.A� Bosso and Makepekepe have also been known not to pull their punches when they clash in their famous Battle of The Cities matches.A�A� With all that in mind, one can see how animosity from such fiercely fought encounters between these bruisers in the local league might sour relations between rival fans.A� It is a tough ask for Highlanders fans to support Caps United, a team that beat them to the championship last season.
It is an even tougher ask for Dynamos fans who would have been cursing the football gods when their cross city rivals lifted the much coveted league trophy aloft at the end of last season.
However, for the next few months at least, fans of the two clubs and others in the league will have to bury the hatchet and support their rivals who are now on a much more important national mission.
This year Caps United managed to make it to the group stages of the African Champions League, simultaneously putting their name on the map and ensuring that they will get a financial windfall that will help in other campaigns.
The success of Mamelodi Sundowns in the same competition last year showed how the support of a whole nation can spur one team to success. The better attendance at their matches during their successful continental run showed that even those that might have overlooked any other Sundowns encounter were prepared to part with their hard earned cash and see Patrice Motsepea��s boys in action.
Consequently, Sundownsa�� performances improved.A� One would like to see the same sense of pride and patriotism prevail as Caps United make a bid to claim Zimbabwea��s first Champions League crown. Whenever they step on the pitch during the duration of their campaign, the Harare giants will be representing more than the green half of the capital.
Despite the fact that Zimbabweans love their soccer, there can be no denying that the gamea��s fans are starved of success. After their victory over USM Alger on Wednesday, soccer fans will hope that the Green Machine will add a bit of much needed silverware to the countrya��s trophy cabinet.
For that to happen however, soccer fans, no matter their allegiance, will have to rally behind them.
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Online Reporter