Online Reporter
Innocent Kurira, [email protected]
THE rivalry between Highlanders and Dynamos rarely needs extra fuel, but Sunday’s Castle Lager Premier Soccer League showdown at Rufaro Stadium already carries an intriguing tactical subplot as Benjani Mwaruwari and Genesis Mangombe prepare to renew their battle on the touchline.
The two coaches come face to face again barely weeks after their sides clashed in the Jairos Jiri Charity Shield at Barbourfields Stadium, where Highlanders edged Dynamos 1-0 in a tight encounter that offered both teams an early glimpse of what they might face when the league campaign gathers momentum.
That afternoon settled pre-season bragging rights, but with league points now on the line and both sides still searching for rhythm early in the campaign, the lessons drawn from that meeting could weigh heavily when Zimbabwe’s biggest football rivalry returns to the capital.
Dynamos head into the match buoyed by their first victory of the season after grinding out a 2-1 win away to TelOne, while Highlanders travel to Harare looking to build momentum following a draw with Bulawayo Chiefs in their opening outing.
For Mwaruwari, the previous encounter offered valuable insight into Dynamos’ attacking weapons, particularly their pace and width on the flanks, an area Highlanders have been working on in preparation for Sunday’s clash.
“I know I am part of this big Highlanders family and playing against Dynamos is motivation in itself, especially for me, the fans and everyone connected to the club,” said Mwaruwari.
“We played them a couple of weeks ago and we saw how they play. Even though we won, it was a good game and they have dangerous wingers, so we have been working on that to make sure they do not give us problems.”
The former Zimbabwe international admits Highlanders are still fine-tuning combinations in the early stages of the season, a process that often unfolds under the pressure of collecting points.
“We have not jelled fully yet and we are using these games to find the right combinations and see where we are as a team,” he said.
“The tricky part is that while you are trying combinations, you still have to be picking up points. Dynamos will come at us strongly and their morale will be high coming from a win, so we know it will be a tough away game.”
Mangombe, whose side suffered defeat in that Charity Shield meeting in Bulawayo, believes Dynamos have already addressed the shortcomings that cost them that day.
“It’s a big game and this time we are playing at home,” said the Dynamos coach.
“We played Highlanders two weeks back and we have looked at the mistakes we made and corrected them. We also now have more of our players registered, which gives us good competition in the squad.
“The game motivates itself. It’s Dynamos against Highlanders and everyone knows what that means.”
Whenever the two giants meet, tactics and form often take a back seat to the emotion and pressure that surrounds the fixture, and Rufaro is expected to be packed as supporters from both sides turn the clash into the familiar cauldron that has defined this rivalry for decades.
PSL Fixtures
Today
Scottland v Ngezi Platinum Stars (Rufaro Stadium)
Saturday
MWOS v TelOne (Ngoni Stadium)
Simba Bhora v Hunters (Wadzanayi Stadium)
FC Platinum v Manica Diamonds (Mandava Stadium)
ZPC Kariba v Hardrock (Nyamhunga Stadium)
Chicken Inn v Triangle (Barbourfields Stadium)
CAPS United v Herentals College
Sunday
Agama v Bulawayo Chiefs (Wadzanayi Stadium)
Dynamos v Highlanders (Rufaro Stadium)
