tawandamusarurwa
Langton Nyakwenda
“HARARE is not a nice city to be when CAPS United are winning and are sitting on top of the log standings,” writes Memory Mucherahowa in his book “Soul of Seven Million Dreams”.
The statement is found in a chapter titled “CAPS United Class of 1996”.
CAPS United won their first league title post-independence in 1996 and had an attack-minded side that was fronted by the deadly trio of Stewart “Shutto” Murisa, Alois Bunjira and Morgan Nkathazo.
Murisa was crowned Soccer Star of the Year in that memorable season for Makepekepe.
According to Mucherahowa, that was a bitter pill to swallow for Dynamos players and their legion of supporters.
“CAPS United had vicious, annoying noisy supporters whom one could not help but notice. Ubiquitous and loud they were,” says Mucherahowa.
The 1994 Soccer Star of the Year is arguably the most successful Dynamos captain, having led them to the 1998 CAF Champions League final.
DeMbare remain the only team from Zimbabwe to achieve the feat and have more league titles than their “noisy” neighbours.
But today, Dynamos fans walk into the National Sports Stadium to face their city rivals in a situation described by Mucherahowa on page 56 of his book.
The 85th Harare Derby explodes at 3pm and will be beamed live on ZTN Prime.
CAPS United are presently unbeaten in the 2023 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.
They top the log with 12 points, having scored six times and conceded only once — against champions FC Platinum on Match Day Five.
Lloyd Chitembwe’s men followed that up with a goalless draw with last season’s runners-up, Chicken Inn.
Their three wins have come against Manica Diamonds, Black Rhinos and ZPC Kariba.
DeMbare, however, are limping.
They have fallen four points behind their bitter rivals, although they have played a game less.
Dynamos were stunned 3-2 by Bulawayo Chiefs at the same venue last weekend, a result that left coach Herbert Maruwa under immense pressure.
It was the first time Dynamos were conceding this season and the manner in which they let in all the three goals from identical set pieces saw questions being raised on their defensive tactics.
However, Maruwa still enjoys massive support from the club’s executive.
A large section of fans also believe the former Black Rhinos gaffer will soon navigate his way out of the current difficult phase.
That is probably why the Dynamos coach appeared calm and relaxed when he addressed the media during the week.
He actually thinks it is CAPS United who are under pressure to win and not Dynamos.
“We are not under pressure going into the game. It’s them (CAPS United) who have the pressure because they are the log leaders,” Maruwa said.
“We will go there (National Sports Stadium) to play our normal game; just do our job and collect maximum points.”
DeMbare have been boosted by the return from injury of crowd puller Denver Mukamba, Donald Mudadi and striker Tinashe Makanda.
Maruwa has pleaded for patience from the club’s demanding fans as he believes his newly assembled team is on the right track.
“We want to win and, at the same time, we have long-term plans, and I think we are on the right track,” he said.
CAPS United failed to beat Dynamos last season and Chitembwe thinks today’s encounter will be a measure of his team’s progress.
He has actually described the match as “one of our biggest matches this season”.
DeMbare have been wobbling but Chitembwe, a veteran of numerous Harare derbies, both as a player and as a coach, is bracing for some fierce competition from the blue half of the city.
“We expect a very spirited and focused Dynamos, and this is how we have been preparing for this match.”
Makepekepe have some players with immense experience in this derby, including goalkeeper Tonderai Mateyaunga, Godknows Murwira, Joel “Josta” Ngodzo, Phineas Bamusi and serial championship winner Devon Chafa.
For Dynamos, it will be the first time to sample a derby tie for the bulk of their regulars.
The Moyo twins — Kevin and Elvis — Tanaka “Kante” Shandirwa, Donald Mudadi, Arthur Musiyiwa, Tendai Matindife and Nyasha Chintuli have never played in this fixture before.
“We have been telling the boys that these are the games that can put you on the map. These are the games where heroes are born,” Maruwa said.
The two giants have historically served sumptuous football dishes, although the vibe and vigour have been lacking in recent years.
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Some of the most memorable battles are the famous 1-1 draw at Rufaro in 1996, when Mpumelelo “Era Muna” Dzowa secured a crucial point for CAPS United with a ferocious free-kick that deceived Gift “Umbro’’ Muzadzi.
Dzowa is now based in the United States and still follows Zimbabwean football.
He is, however, worried by the migration of fans to the English Premier League.
Dzowa also thinks that current derbies do not match those of the swinging 1980s and 1990s.
“The situation has deteriorated to just fulfilling fixtures,” he told The Sunday Mail Sport yesterday.
“I don’t want to beat my chest but the fact that you still talk about a free-kick I scored in 1996 tells you something.
“These young men should excel so that they put us back into the archives.
“The media tries to hype the games but the boys don’t just deliver on the pitch.
“Even in terms of attendance, our games were far much better. We never played in an empty stadium. To us, 2 000 people was equivalent to empty.
“But, today, you find that these derbies are no longer attracting crowds; the players themselves struggle to garner 5 000 fans on Facebook.
“That, on its own, tells you the boys are failing to rise to the occasion,” said Dzowa.
CAPS United edged Dynamos 2-1 at Rufaro on May 9, 2004, before a capacity crowd at Rufaro, with Leonard Tsipa and Ashley Muza scoring, while Andrew Chifamba responded for DeMbare.
Makepekepe went on to win the first of their two consecutive titles under Charles Mhlauri.
Nyasha Mushekwi scored a historic brace when CAPS United overcame Dynamos 2-0 at Rufaro on Easter Monday of 2009.
Oscar Machapa assisted both goals on a sunny afternoon that he roasted Stan Mutenheri and haunted him into early retirement.
On October 16, 2016, something miraculous happened at the National Sports Stadium — Dynamos, then under Lloyd Mutasa, led CAPS United 3-0 with five minutes to play but the Green Machine found their way back in stunning fashion to level the scores at full-time.
It is now very rare for players to register braces in this fixture like what Mushekwi did in 2009.
The derbies of today are now flat, thanks to the absence of midfield magicians and dribbling wizards.
Both sides produced dribbling wizards yesteryear, but that production line is now dry.
Patrick “Amato the Devil” Dzvene, George “Mastermind” Shaya, David “Broom Boy” George, Moses “Razorman” Chunga, Biggie and Garikai Zuze, Edward “Madhoba” Katsvere, Kenneth “Computer” Jere, Tauya “Doctor” Murewa, Vitalis “Digital” Takawira, Mugove “Sugar” Munyorovi, Claudius Zviripayi, Bheki Mlotshwa and Samson Choruwa are some of the yesteryear derby heroes for Dynamos.
Stanford “Stix” Mtizwa, Stanley “Sinyo” Ndunduma, Gift Mudangwe, Bunjira, Murisa and Nkathazo are some of the magicians to have featured in the green-and-white CAPS United jersey.
There were great scorers also in this derby, like the late Shacky Tauro, who remains the leading scorer in the derby with 16 goals, two more than Chunga.
Fixtures:
Triangle United v Chicken Inn (Gibbo), Cranborne Bullets v Sheasham (Baobab), CAPS United v Dynamos (National Sports Stadium), Highlanders v Hwange (Barbourfields)
Tomorrow:
Herentals v FC Platinum (National Sports Stadium)
* Twitter: @LangtonGuraz
Online Reporter