Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THIS one could probably have been the dullest Harare Derby showdown between Dynamos and CAPS United in recent years if the two Castle Lager Premier Soccer League giants’ form is anything to go by.
But it could yet actually turn out to be one of the liveliest, given the changes in both sides’ cockpits.
Both giants are not only limping, but they haven’t found their feet as yet, one-third into the 34-game Premiership programme.
The teams have been so bad in the opening 11 games of the term and are starring right down the relegation bar-rel. Dynamos, with just eight points to their name, are third from the bottom, while CAPS United are only a point and two places above their rivals, whom they face-off against on Sunday at Rufaro.
This is the first time, since the turn of the century, that the Harare giants will be meeting when they are both swimming in the mire after playing at least seven games.
But rather than expecting a damp squib, the team’s respective positions on the log could actually fuel up the derby, as both will be out to take the full points home and possibly sign their way off the precipice.
That both clubs have new coaches, hired particularly to revive their faltering season, adds to the sub-plots and means the game could end up turning into a high-stakes encounter where the new torch-bearers want to use it as a springboard to get flying.
CAPS United are now under the guidance of their former Zambian midfielder Ian Bakala, who picked a point in Makepekepe’s 1-1 draw against Herentals last Saturday in his first game in charge since taking over from Lloyd Chitembwe. Chitembwe is now the team’s technical director.
There has also been drama in the Dynamos camp, with Saul Chaminuka being appointed in place of the sacked Lloyd Chigowe. Chaminuka replaced Chigowe late on Monday after the latter failed to pass his single-match ultimatum when los-ing 2-0 to Triangle at Gibbo on Sunday.
Save for the only time in the history of the modern Premier Soccer League, when the Harare Derby opened the season in 2008, Sunday’s game will be the first occasion when both sides enter the stage with new coaches at the helm.
Bakala conducted only two training sessions before the Herentals game last week and will be eager to see his tactics being fully implemented in the match against Dynamos. As a player, the Zambian, who was the Castle Soccer Star of the Year runner-up for 2004 when he helped CAPS United to the league title, never lost a game to Dynamos, nor did he lose a match at Rufaro.
But he has acknowledged that coaching is a different ball game altogether, insisting that DeMbare deserves to be respected despite saying Dynamos, just like the Green Machine, despite the difficulties they are facing, are still giants and ought to be respected.
“Firstly, I am happy that I am back at CAPS United.
“I cannot over-emphasise that. I built some very sweet memories with this club, winning the league title as a player and now is the time to also win trophies as a coach. Whoever wins the contest can build on that momentum to start a steady rise up the ladder. Meanwhile, Dynamos yesterday announced their full technical team, where Philemon Mutyakureva, who served the club under Kalisto Pasuwa, bounced back as an assistant.
Mutyakureva and Takesure Chinyama will be the assistant coaches, with the latter specialising in the strikers.
Former Motor Action goalkeeper Marlon Jani is the goalkeepers’ trainer, while Ronald “Gidiza” Sibanda has been retained as the team manager.
The pair of Washington Lusengo and former DeMbare defender Pio Mhizha will take care of kits as manager and second in charge, respectively.
