Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi-Zimpapers Sports Hub
SCOTTLAND have dubbed their clash against Herentals at Rufaro today as the new Castle Lager Premier Soccer League’s main Harare Derby, suggesting their ambitions challenge the establishment.
Traditionally, the match between Dynamos and CAPS United is the one referred to as the Harare Derby. This has been like that for the last four decades.
But with the giants on the decline and the advent of a new crop of football aristocrats on the ascendency, Zimbabwean football is experiencing a major shake-up.
While Dynamos and CAPS United are currently fighting for survival, Scottland in their first season are gunning for the title while Herentals have been the best team in Harare for the past few seasons in terms of final log placings.
Scottland go into the match today on the back of an impressive six-match winning streak which has helped them rekindle their title ambitions in the last month.
Tonderai Ndiraya’s men are expected to parade a galaxy of their stars that include former Zimbabwe captain Knowledge Musona, who is one of the five additions made during the recent mid-season transfer window, along with fellow Warriors forward Terrence Dzvukamanja and Young Warriors sensation Mafious Chiweta.
“I am very happy, very impressed by the individual performance of the players,” said Ndiraya.
“I think those that joined during the mid-season break have really added more impetus and power to the team and we’ve further improved. Not that those who were with us in the first round of matches were bad, but they were good.
“But I think the addition of the five have really given something, a different dimension to the team and how we have been playing our games . . .
“Hopefully in the last nine league matches we can be consistent and go through to the end. But it’s a difficult terrain to navigate. We have to be very strong physically and mentally so that we can keep going.”
It’s interesting how Scottland and Herentals are going to line up. While Scottland boast of stars, Herentals have grafters around the 54-year-old club owner Innocent Benza, who plays as a striker.
The Students can be party spoilers on any day.
They have not lost a game in their last five league outings and have stormed into the top five on the log standings.
Herentals have plausible chances in the title race, although coach Paul Benza remains cautious.
“Our target remains the same,” he said ahead of today’s match.
“We finished fifth last year and we should be better than that this season. What we need to do is just take each game as it comes.”
Scottland are second in the race with 49 points while Herentals are on 41. Simba Bhora lead the race with 50 points and will host basement side Kwekwe United at Wadzanayi.
The other title contenders MWOS, on 42 points, have failed to win in their last six outings and will be out to stop the tide when they visit Manica Diamonds at Sakubva tomorrow.
MWOS coach Lloyd Mutasa, however, is not losing sleep because of his side’s dip in form.
“These things happen in football. You can do everything right in training and all other aspects but fail to get a result on the pitch,” he told Zimpapers Sports Hub.
“But we have a strong squad and technical team. They are believers and they understand that this is just a rough patch and we have nine games left to turn things and see what the season produces.”
Newboys MWOS, who shocked all and sundry when they seized control of the race for most of the first half of the season, appear to have their bubble deflated. They have lost their last two matches to Dynamos and Simba Bhora and are keen to bounce back to winning ways.
“I can’t say we have changed anything but maybe we have adapted our approach to be suit our current circumstance.
“We continue to work the same in training and of course trying out new things and concept but the boys are naturally motivated. They know what they can do and sooner rather than later we will get back to getting results.”
“We have gotten this far with this team. If they got us where we are now, I am sure they can take us across the finish line. I believe in these boys and I am sure they have the same belief as well,” said Mutasa.
