adminChampions Dynamos visit CAPS United at the National Sports Stadium for the high stakes Premiership clash on Sunday where a number of new players from either side will be playing in their first Harare derby.
Uganda Cranes international midfielder Zirintusa is one such player who will be playing in a high-profile clash, in terms of the domestic game, for the first time when he lines up against Makepekepe on Sunday.
Zirintusa arrived at Dynamos at the start of the year, having first spent time in Division One where he featured for Northern Region outfit Twalumba.
Although Zirintusa has not made the huge impact he would have hoped for when he joined the Glamour Boys, the 20-year-old Ugandan is still satisfied with his contribution to the Dynamos cause and believes “only the goals are the missing part’’ in his game so far.
Zirintusa has only scored once for Dynamos in a 3-0 Champions League encounter against Lesotho Correctional Services at Rufaro but he has had several assists in the seven Premiership games he has played for DeMbare to date.
Despite featuring in such games like the clashes against Triangle, Tripple B, Shabanie Mine and Monomotapa, Zirintusa is aware that the derby tie is different and has its special place among the Dynamos family.
Yesterday the lanky forward also spoke about how Sunday’s showdown with CAPS United will evoke memories of his time back home in Kampala.
“In my short time at Dynamos I have learnt that the derby against CAPS United is an important match but I am trying not to think much about its significance.
“I just want to look at it the way I would treat the matches against Harare City or Chicken Inn because really there is no difference we will still get three points if we win.
“Since I came into this country I also learnt that there is a huge rivalry between the two teams from the players to the supporters which makes it so exciting and I am excited about it too.
“In fact it reminds me of the fierce rivalry in the Kampala derby between Express and FC Villa. I grew up in the FC Villa system and played for their academy and I know what it means to have a big derby like this because whenever those two teams play Kampala comes to a standstill,’’ Zirintusa said.
Zirintusa’s bid to make an immediate impression at Dynamos was not helped by the fact that the champions got off to a slow start to the season, drawing their opening five games, albeit in sluggish fashion.
“The goals have not come yet in the league but I know what I am capable of and the goals will come so I am not under any pressure.
“So far I am just playing my part to make sure the team wins and that is what matters most because the result is about Dynamos and not about Boban’’.
Zirintusa also paid tribute to coach Callisto Pasuwa and his assistant Tonderai Ndiraya, who he credited for helping him settle to life in the Premiership and at Dynamos.
“There is a big difference between playing in Division One and in the Premier League here, from the type of grounds you use, the money, the pressure . . . everything.
“But I have been very fortunate to work with good coaches and every day I get advice from them and I have also received a lot of support from the captain Murape (Murape) and all the senior players like Tawanda, (Muparati) Ocean (Mushure) and Devon (Chafa),’’ Zirintusa said.
Dynamos, seeking to maintain their new found winning formula, could also have the psychological edge over their bitter city rivals, who they have dominated in the derby meetings since 2009. CAPS United last beat Dynamos 2-0 in a league match on April 12 2009, via a Nyasha Mushekwi brace at Rufaro.
Mushekwi has since moved to South African Premiership giants Mamelodi Sundowns but his former team is still to find a formula to beat DeMbare in the league.
Dynamos vice-captain Tawanda Muparati, who has developed a knack of scoring important goals against CAPS United over their last few meetings, however, insisted that they would not let their dominance over Makepekepe get into their heads.
Muparati also warned CAPS United that; “I have another secret for them which I will only reveal after we have won on Sunday.
“I think we should not take this game lightly simply because we have been beating CAPS United more often. Our history over CAPS will not count for much because it’s a new game but we are happy that we are playing them when our confidence is back and the morale has been boosted by the last two wins.
“I have had the luck of doing well against CAPS United and I am personally looking forward to that game again. I have a secret weapon for CAPS which I will only reveal after we have beaten them on Sunday.
“CAPS United are a good team but I just want us to focus on our team and ensure we keep dominating them,’’ Muparati said.
Pasuwa, who has Artwell Mukandi, Tichaona Mabvura, Augustine Mbara, Byron Madzokere and Francisco Zekumbawire battling injuries, was also hopeful that the state of the National Sports Stadium has been improved for the derby showdown.
“The last time when we played in the Independence final there, the pitch was so bumpy and had a lot of holes which posed a threat to the players. I hope they have done something to improve its condition.
“Of course, because it’s a derby, you can feel a change in the atmosphere but we must not lose sight of the fact that it’s not just victory over CAPS United that wins you the championship thus we must not put ourselves under too much pressure.
“Both CAPS and Dynamos have new players for this season but whoever is picked knows they have to perform and I know that this CAPS United team would want to be the one that stopped our dominance over them but my guys are also eager to avoid being the first team to lose to CAPS in a long time,’’ Pasuwa said.
Pasuwa also has his own record, that of not losing to any of the Premiership’s top teams, to protect.
Online Reporter