adminAugustine Hwata Sports Reporter
THE official Harare Derby has been slated for Week 15 of the Castle Lager Premiership, but city rivals Dynamos and CAPS UNITED get a chance to size each other in the Zimbabwe National Army Charities semi-final showdown at the National Sports Stadium tomorrow. League champions Dynamos go into the game with the bragging rights and assistant coach Tichaona Diya said they were not going to give the rights away, even in this charity match.
CAPS United have struggled to beat Dynamos since March 2009 and a victory for the Green Machine tomorrow could, at least, throw a silver lining ahead of the real battle at the half way stage of the league.
Both sides will be depleted with Dynamos going in without coach Callisto Pasuwa, defensive rock Patson Jaure, George Chigova and midfield hardman Stephen Alimenda who are on national duty.
Diya, a former product of the Dynamos juniors, knows the expectations from both sets of fans, even if there are no three points at stake.
“We are determined to win this game. We are not taking the match lightly because it’s a Charity Shield.
“All our players who are available for selection are ready to play,” said Diya.
Diya said DeMbare will still be without Masimba Mambare, Tawanda Muparati and Sydney Linyama who are all injured.
“I think we have almost 10 players from the squad who are still battling to recover. But from the pool available, I hope we do our best because we are taking the match seriously,” said Diya.
The Harare giants could trust Artwell Mukandi to guard the posts while Ocean Mushure and Thomas Magorimbo could operate as wingbacks with Augustine Mbara and Themba Ndlovu forming the central defence.
Oscar Machapa, Tafadzwa Rusike and Ronald Chitiyo gives them quality and experience going forward.
Victor Kamhuka has been ruled out following the death of his mother during the week.
A victory for Dynamos will, at least, appease their fans after the giants have gone for three matches without a win.
CAPS United were buoyed by their 2-0 win over Black Rhinos in the league and are coming into the match as the defending Cup champions.
Tendai Samanja will be the stand-in skipper for CAPS United in the absence of Tapiwa Kumbuyani who is injured .
CAPS United fans know that a victory against Dynamos could make them believe that, at least, they could break the five-year-old jinx.
The dread-locked Samanja said they were ready for the clash, where a win could help their fans mock their rivals, at least, until the real derby.
“We are prepared. Even the mood at training is great. It has been long since we won against them and we have been losing matches but what’s on our mind right now is that we need to win the game,” said Samanja.
CAPS will be without Hardlife Zvirekwi and Ronald Pfumbidzai, who are also away with the Warriors, while gangly forward Ishmail Thindwa, who is yet to open his account here, has been called for national duty in Malawi.
◆ Veteran broadcaster Charles “CNN” Mabika’s new weekly World Cup television show starts on ZTV tomorrow night at 7pm
Online Reporter