Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi
Zimpapers Sports Hub
RUFARO will shake again on Sunday.
Dynamos and Highlanders meet in the Battle of Zimbabwe and, even this early in the season, the old rivalry is already making waves.
Both giants arrive with something to prove.
Dynamos are still rebuilding under Genesis Mangombe after sweeping changes to the squad.
Highlanders are beginning a new chapter under Benjani Mwaruwari.
“It’s a big game for us,” said Mangombe.
“A derby is never ordinary. The stadium will be full and our supporters expect us to win. We must be ready for that pressure.”
Dynamos come into the match after edging TelOne 2-1 in Gweru in their opening league match.
The win helped steady nerves after the humiliation of a 5-0 defeat to Scottland in the Castle Challenge Cup. Mangombe admitted that loss stung.
But he believes the response from his players showed the team still has a fight.
“We told the boys that we are not a bad team,” he said.
“If we play the way we want, in possession and out of possession, we can still win games and surprise people.”
These two rivals already tested each other during pre-season in the Jairos Jiri Charity Cup where Highlanders edged Dynamos 1-0 in Bulawayo.
Mangombe believes Sunday will tell a very different story.
“That was pre-season when we were still trying to work out our team,” he said.
“Now, we have started the league and we have somewhere to begin from. We will try our best to win.”
Dynamos supporters will also be watching their new foreign recruits closely.
Malawian forward Stanley Billiat has already caught the eye of the DeMbare faithful after his lively display against TelOne.
He is joined by Congolese mid elder Isaac Landu, Ghanaian defender Christopher Nakai Netty and Cameroonian Under-23 goalkeeper Idrissou Nfor Finia.
Mangombe says the arrivals have raised competition inside the squad.
“The foreign players have given us more options,” he said.
“They push everyone to work harder because the competition for places is stronger.”
Benjani’s first league assignment in charge ended in frustration when Bosso needed a late penalty to rescue a 1-1 draw against Bulawayo Chiefs at Barbour fields.
The former Warriors striker is still shaping his side and the derby offers an early measure of how far the rebuilding has gone.
