Champions on Supersport

the home front today for an historic Castle Lager Premiership tie against champions Motor Action at Rufaro that will be screened live on SuperSport.
The Glamour Boys are battling injuries in their camp with roving rightback David Kutyauripo joining Milton Makopa and captain George Magariro, who missed Sunday’s Mbada Diamond Cup semi-final win over FC Platinum, on the injury list.

DeMbare turned on one of their best all-round shows on Sunday, despite the absence of their skipper, and were full value for their win over FC Platinum and, had Cuthbert Malajila been more accurate, he could have easily grabbed a hat-trick.
Disciplined in defence, compact in midfield where the returning Leo Kurauzvione shone like a beacon, and deadly on the counter where Malajila’s pace was a handful, with Murape Murape outstanding

and clearly robbed of a man-of-the-match award he fully deserved, Dynamos dominated FC Platinum.
Now, the Glamour Boys have to do it all over again, in the battle that matters the most, with a victory against a plucky Mighty Bulls certain to keep them in the hunt for league championship honours ahead of a blood-and-thunder showdown against FC Platinum at Mandava on Sunday.

DeMbare clearly benefited from a capacity crowd at Barbourfileds, which backed their cause and lifted their spirits, but Rufaro – where the fans usually turn against their team when things are not going well for them – could prove a tricky home.
Team manager Richard Chihoro yesterday confirmed Kutyauripo, Magariro and Makopa will miss today’s game but remained upbeat about their chances in a match they need to win to keep pace with leaders FC Platinum in the title race.

“It’s always tough whenever we meet Motor Action but we have said that we want to win the last three games to enhance our chances of winning the title.
“There is everything to play for in this game and we urge our fans to come in their numbers to back their team,” said Chihoro.
Acting chairman of the Zifa Referees Committee, Ndumiso Gumede, said local referees will handle all the league matches today.

DeMbare will welcome back midfielder Tawanda Muparati, with his appearance at Rufaro today triggering emotional scenes, after he lost his father on the eve of the Mbada Diamonds Cup tie against FC Platinum and could not make the trip to Bulawayo.
In the absence of Kutyauripo, the technical team might turn to Timire Mamvura or Thomas Magorimbo for the rightback position while minimal changes are expected to the side that started the last game.

Motor Action, however, are unfazed by Dynamos’ recent good run, which has seen them climbing to second position on the log table with 49 points from 27 games.
DeMbare are yet to lose a match, since coach Callisto Pasuwa took over, with inspirational goalkeeper Washington Arubi and speed merchant Malajila in the fold.
The only loss, a 0-1 defeat against Masvingo United, came with Arubi and Malajila away on national duty.

The Mighty Bulls are third, five points adrift, after losing a lot of ground in the campaign due to a spate of poor results in the last month.
However, Motor Action midfielder, Allen Gahadzikwa, believes the Mighty Bulls are inspired to stop DeMbare in the championship race following a good performance on Sunday.
Gahadzikwa, who has been one of the consistent players in the league this season, yesterday echoed manager Joey Antipas’ sentiments that they aim to finish the season strongly.

The Mighty Bulls beat Dynamos 2-0 in the reverse fixture before experiencing a slump in the second half of the season.
Gahadzikwa believes the victory over Zimbabwe Saints in the Mbada Diamonds Cup on Sunday was the right tonic ahead of this derby.
“It’s going to be difficult but we have to play to the best of our ability. Dynamos have realistic chances in the championship race and they would want to win this match at all costs.

“I think we are thoroughly prepared for them. On paper there isn’t much in it for us but we still have a slim chance, which is enough motivation to fight on.
“We just need to be more confident and collect as many points as we can in the remaining games and then see what happens at the end,” said Gahadzikwa.
The Mighty Bulls, however, will be without the scorer of their second goal in the Mbada Diamonds Cup Passmore Bernard who is out on suspension after picking three yellow cards and defender

Rueben Machaya who completes his suspension for the red card he picked at Shabanie Mine two weeks ago.
DeMbare have traditionally struggled against the Mighty Bulls but, if the Glamour Boys want to win
this league championship, then they have to beat the best.

Pasuwa and his men have to win today, and also win on Sunday, if they can claim to be the real champions in a race that has been marred by allegations that other teams were receiving preferential treatment from referees.

South African referee, Victor Hlungwane, refused to be lured into giving FC Platinum a penalty when Donald Ngoma tumbled in the box on Sunday and also turned down DeMbare’s appeals for a penalty for a handball in the miners’ box.

Firm and professional, Hlungwane was a model for how referees should conduct their business.
Meanwhile, Premier Soccer League chief executive Kenny Ndebele yesterday said the SuperSport personnel were already on the ground and the league was hopeful negotiations for a possible deal

will start after the test matches.
“We have always thought that we have the product that cannot only be sold in Zimbabwe but beyond the borders as well,” said Ndebele.

“As we have said before, this is just a test run to see whether we are ready to be on the SuperSport channel or not.

“We haven’t opened the negotiations with them yet and it’s something we are looking forward to.
“The Mbada Diamond Cup final is also going to be broadcast live on SuperSport. It promises to be a bigger event and we just hope that all the stakeholders will play their part to market our game,” said Ndebele.