CAPS not Barca: Chidzambwa

showdown against CAPS United, saying there was no need to lose sleep over the match because the Green Machine were not Barcelona.
The former Dynamos skipper leads his bubbly newboys, Blue Ribbon, into a battle against Moses Chunga’s all-conquering Makepekepe at Rufaro this afternoon.
Chidzambwa’s men are unbeaten in three games, winning two and drawing one in Bulawayo, and could go top of the Premiership table with a victory today.
For a team playing in its maiden Premiership season, Blue Ribbon have done pretty well so far but, then, their cause has also been aided by a good number of battle-hardened players who know the challenges of top-flight football.
Analysts believe Chidzambwa and his men will give CAPS United, who have won all their three games and scored 14 goals, their toughest challenge so far this season.
Chidzambwa, who also captained and coached the Warriors, yesterday said he wasn’t concerned by CAPS United’s impressive run and promised to give the Harare giants a good run.
“This is a new game and we are prepared for it. To me it’s like any other match that we have played and we cannot treat it differently because CAPS are not Barcelona,” said Chidzambwa.
“We play in the same league and the better team will win.
“We just need to prepare well and hope for the best. I think it’s too early to talk about this game. We have to wait until after the game.”
Blue Ribbon are unlikely to ring changes to the side that beat Shooting Stars 2-0 in their previous assignment as they have a clean bill of health. Former Monomotapa striker Daniel Kamunenga has been doing well for his new side and remains a real threat and will give the CAPS United defence a real examination.
Kamunenga is likely to be facing his former Monomotapa teammate Luckmore Simango who is now partnering Nyasha Mukumbi in the heart of the CAPS United defence.
Blue Ribbon are currently in fourth position with seven points, two behind their opponents CAPS United, who lead the charts with a 100 percent winning record after three games.
Gate charges for this match have been pegged at US$3 for the rest of the ground.
Some Dynamos fans yesterday said they would support Blue Ribbon today as a mark of respect for the way the company supported the Glamour Boys in the 1990s when it was the team’s flagship sponsor.
The rivalry between Dynamos and CAPS United fans at Rufaro, even when the two teams are not playing each other, has given domestic football an interesting side show.
But CAPS United coach Moses Chunga said his side was more concerned with avoiding this banana skin as they battle to keep their place at the top of the table.
Young Warriors’ marksman Simba Sithole, who lead the Premiership scorers’ charts with five goals, returns to the Green Machine after scoring for his country in Botswana at the weekend.
Sithole, who has scored in all three league matches for the Green Machine, is striking a good partnership with Evans Gwekwerere.
Reigning champions Motor Action will also be in action this afternoon when they play Shooting Stars at Gwanzura while Premiership returnees Zimbabwe Saints and Masvingo lock horns in another tussle at Luveve.
Police outfit Black Mambas will be looking for their second win against visiting Bulawayo side Chicken Inn at Morris Depot.
Dynamos coach Lloyd Mutasa has challenged his players to raise their game as pressure mounts for the Glamour Boys to start collecting points more consistently following a poor start in the league race.
DeMbare host Hwange at Rufaro tomorrow before travelling to Bulawayo for a date against Highlanders at Barbourfields on Easter Monday.
“It’s time we start collecting points. We need to win our matches home and away to recover the lost ground,” said Mutasa.
The Harare giants, who had an impressive pre-season, have not had the best of starts after losing the opening two matches to Kiglon and Motor Action.
They, however, appeared to have redeemed themselves with a 2-0 victory over FC Platinum last week, which took away some of the pressure and gave Mutasa and his charges hope in the forthcoming matches.
But, as they prepare for the weekend programme with Hwange and Highlanders next in the line, Mutasa indicated that he was not happy with the team’s inconsistency.
This follows their lacklustre performance in the Independence Cup final where they lost 4-3 in a penalty shootout to Bosso after a goalless tie.
Mutasa also took a swipe at his players for evading responsibility in the wake of their defeat to Bosso after defender Guthrie Zhokinyi missed two penalties in the match.
“The penalty shootout is a lottery. It’s more about confidence and we have been practicing it regularly.
“There are some players who have been doing well in that aspect and, as a result, we put them at the top of the packing order.
“We give such players the responsibility in the game situation but you find out that someone will chicken out because he doesn’t have enough confidence.
“What do we do next?
“The player next in the order will take the kick but then I don’t see the reason we should keep a player in the team when he is afraid of responsibility because that is why we have put him in there,” said Mutasa.
Fixtures
Today – CAPS United v Blue Ribbon (Rufaro), Shooting Stars v Motor Action (Gwanzura), Zimbabwe Saints v Masvingo (Luveve), Black Mambas v Chicken Inn (Morris Depot)
Tomorrow – Dynamos v Hwange (Rufaro), Shabanie Mine v FC Platinum (Maglas), Gunners v Highlanders (La Farge), Monomotapa v Kiglon (Gwanzura)
Sunday – Zimbabwe Saints v Blue Ribbon (White City), CAPS United v Black Mambas ((Rufaro), Chicken Inn v Shooting Stars (Luveve)
Monday – Highlanders vs Dynamos (Barbourfields), Motor Action vs Shabanie Mine (Motor Action Sports Club), FC Platinum vs Gunners (Maglas), Hwange vs Monomotapa (Colliery), Masvingo vs Kiglon (Mucheke).