SOCCER: Derby overdose!

Ishemunyoro Chingwere

CAPS UNITED coach Mark Harrison says playing Dynamos three times in a month is emotionally draining.

However, the much travelled gaffer insists that his team is taking this afternoon Zimbabwe National Army Commanders’ charity shield semi-final clash against DeMbare seriously.

In the other semi-final Highlanders clash with How Mine at Barbourfields with both teams under pressure to make a statement after undergoing wholesale changes during the off season.

Bosso coach Bongani Mafu watched his side being outplayed by Caps United in the Bob 91 semi-final a fortnight ago and the outspoken mentor does not to be reminded of the implications of another defeat at B/F.

For How Mine coach Luke Masomere the clash with Highlanders presents him with a chance to gauge the readiness of his expensively assembled side ahead of the start of the new season.

However, the pick of the semi final ties is at Rufaro where Caps United will be looking to avenge last weekend’s Bob 91 final defeat to Dynamos.

“These (high profile) games take a lot of drain on the players mentally and physically and it’s not ideal playing the same team three times in four weeks,” said Harrison.

“I have been with the team for about four weeks, so I would say we are four weeks into pre-season while others are eight weeks in it, but that’s no excuse.

“The fitness levels are coming up, we are slowly getting where we need to be.”

Dynamos assistant coach Tonderai Ndiraya sang from the same hymn book as Harrison and hinted on the possibility of fielding fringe players.

“We will see with how preparations go but we always want to do well in all the matches we play especially against Caps United.

“As big teams you wouldn’t want to play each other week in week out and sometimes it becomes a little bit boring to play the same opponent over and over again,” said Ndiraya.

The two giants have cancelled each other in this year’s pre-season tournaments with Caps United winning the Sino Zim Cement Cup before DeMbare triumphed in the Bob @91 Super Cup.