EDITORIAL COMMENT: Once the Pinnacle of Zim Football

THERE was a time when the Harare Derby was the biggest football fixture in this country.

Those were the days when this flagship battle between Dynamos and CAPS United, the two biggest clubs in the capital, would attract a capacity crowd at Rufaro.

Such was the massive interest in this game that fans would be at the stadium as early as 10am so that they would not be locked out of the venue when it was full to capacity.

The Derby would be the dominant story in local football all week and it would be guaranteed back page lead story status in all the daily newspapers in this country.

On Match Day, on the occasions when there were no violent disturbances, it would be the perfect picture of the beauty of our domestic Premiership.

The blue and white colours produced a beautiful sight and the life in the stands produced sounds that provided a sound track to the events on the field.

The contest was a parade of some of the best players in the country — Shacky Tauro, Joel Shambo, Stix Mutizwa, Stanley Ndunduma, Joe Mugabe, Alois Bunjira, Stewart Murisa, George Nechironga for CAPS United.

Moses and Kembo Chunga, Sunday and Misheck Chidzambwa, Kenneth Jere, David Mandigora, Tauya Murewa, Memory Mucherahowa, Vitalis Takawira, Biggie and Garikai Zuze and Edward Katsvere for Dynamos.

The contests were brutal but beautiful and the fans knew they were guaranteed epic battles and, more often than not, they always got what they came for.

Sadly, we cannot say the same thing about this flagship battle between Dynamos and CAPS United.

It’s a safe bet for one to gamble that Rufaro will not be full on Sunday and it will be considered a very good turn out if, at least, 10 000 fans pay their way into the stadium.

There were 88 000 fans at the FNB Stadium last Saturday when Kaizer Chiefs hosted champions Mamelodi Stadium.

The Amakhosi, who also call themselves Glamour Boys, have not won the league title since 2015.

However, Chiefs can still pull 88 000 to their big fixtures and Dynamos can barely get 15 000 today.

Some will argue that the fans in South Africa have more disposable income, which makes it easier for them to go and watch their clubs in action.

But, it’s also a fact that in 2008, when our economy was probably in its worst state ever, Dynamos were still pulling more than 30 000 fans to Rufaro.

It’s also a fact that there was a capacity crowd for their Champions League match against Zamalek. And, why is it that we have been seeing good crowds at Barbourfields when the people in Bulawayo also have to deal with the same economic dynamics which confront those in Harare?

We believe the Dynamos and CAPS United leaders should discuss why the appeal of their brands has diminished and try to find ways of making their clubs appeal to their constituency as was the case in the past.