Coaches remain upbeat

DYNAMOS coach David Mandigora says he will not lose sleep after his defence was finally breached yesterday while his CAPS United counterpart, Mark Harrison, feels the Green Machine are making good progress.The DeMbare defence finally gave in, four games into their league campaign, when bitter rivals CAPS United found a way to beat ‘keeper Artwell Mukandi, in a dull Harare Derby showdown at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.

Malawian international George Nyirenda, who has been converted into a defensive midfielder, scored against the champions in a game which failed to live up to expectations and only came to life in the second half.

But Mandigora said the fact that a team found a way to score against them was not something to worry him as he knew that, one day, it was going to happen.

“A goal against us was always coming and we cannot play all the games without conceding. It’s football. I think our team played well in the first half and should have scored,” said the DeMbare gaffer, despite statistics showing that this was probably the worst first half played by both teams in the history of the Harare Derby.

“In the second half, we were a little bit tired, maybe because we had played another game on Friday against Dongo. “So our energy levels were low in the second half.”

Mandigora said they never allowed the squabbles at CAPS United to hoodwink them into believing that they would be given the three points without fighting for them.

“We were ready to play CAPS United because we knew they were coming for the game. The players knew about this fixture and that it had to be fulfilled.
Dynamos played with more urgency towards the dying stages of the game and could count themselves unlucky after Oscar Machapa’s brilliant effort crashed against the upright with CAPS United goalkeeper Victor Twaliki at sea in the 80th minute.

Machapa seems to have perfected the art of scoring beauties against his former side after scoring a screamer which gave the Glamour Boys victory at Rufaro.

He remains a man for the Harare Derby after his dribbling skills, six years ago, destroyed the defences of Sam Mutenheri down the right side of the CAPS attacking channel, giving him the chance to feed Nyasha Mushekwi for the double strike in the Green Machine’s victory.

That was the last time CAPS United beat Dynamos in a league match.

CAPS United coach, Harrison, whose team is still to lose a league match on the field, said he had seen a lot of progress since his arrival at the Green Machine.

“We will get there and we have a lot more to give and a lot more will come. This is just six weeks into training and as the season progresses, I hope we can improve,” said the Englishman.

“It’s two points dropped from this game. The players were motivated to play this game and they want to play for the club and they love CAPS United. We all love the club and want to take it to another level. We are all working every single day and contrary to what people believe.”

CAPS United face a tricky trip to Triangle in their next match while Dynamos host Flame Lily.

“I just think that we needed to get on the ball a little bit more. We needed to be a little bit more adventurous and take our chances in the game,” said Harrison.

Before the league game, the Harare giants had faced each other three times before during the off-season, with Dynamos winning two of the encounters. Some believe that there are too many duels between the two sides these days and it was now destroying the magic of the Harare Derby.

Even the crowd that was at the National Sports Stadium yesterday was a poor one by the Harare Derby standards although some can argue that this was because of CAPS United’s ill-advised decision to hike gate charges, with the cheapest ticket going for $5 for a match that was live on SuperSport — Sports Reporter/Sportszone