Chronicle EditorGrace Chingoma Senior Sports Reporter
CAPS United vice-captain Stephen Makatuka says they are ready to finally stop Harare City tomorrow when the two clubs clash in a Castle Lager Premiership tie at the National Sports Stadium.
Last season, the Green Machine collected a point against their rivals before falling 0-1 in the reverse tie with Osborne Mukuradare on target.
The two sides met in the ZNA Charities quarter-final with the Sunshine Boys scoring a last-gasp equaliser before winning a penalty shoot-out lottery.
But Makatuka said the time has come for the Green Machine to roar.
“History is meant for the archives, the coach even said that, with the way we are working I think we are good enough to score and get points from the match.
“It is not an easy game at all. There are former CAPS United players there and just want to prove themselves, even when we are chatting over the phones, they say they want to beat us and get the three points. It won’t be an easy game, it’s a derby,” said Makatuka.
CAPS United coach Lloyd Chitembwe said his men were ready for a big battle.
“History is no longer important. For us what is important is the game which is coming and I wouldn’t want to put relevance to what happened two, three months ago because the situation is completely different,” said Chitembwe.
A host of new players, among them Allen Gahadzikwa, Abbas Amidu, Cabby Kamhapa and Dennis Dauda are yet to feature for Makepekepe.
Chitembwe says Harare City are a good and competitive side.
“Let’s be honest no one has won the league as yet and no one is in a very good position to win it. It is too early to make those kind of suggestions.
“Yes, they (Harare City) have a very good squad, so is Chicken Inn, so is Highlanders, so is FC Platinum and obviously ourselves.
“But just having a good squad has no relevance sometimes, it is what you do during the course of the whole season that will obviously give you a good chance of winning the league.
“The season is still in its infancy and just two games and suddenly one particular team has a good chance, I don’t think that’s correct.
“They have a very good squad, but it is not only about them, but about four or five teams also have equally good squads. Statements are not important. It is not about making statements, it is about performing consistently week in and week out until the last game of the season which is more important.
“You can make a statement with a win against Harare City and then go on to lose against Mutare City and it makes no sense. But we would rather be consistent, week in week out, until the last game of the season,” said Chitembwe.
Harare City are coming into this match following their 4-1 drubbing of Mutare City Rovers. And forward William Manondo, who scored one of the goals in that rout, says he is on a mission to make a big impression this year.
He missed out in the race to be one of the eleven Soccer Stars of the Year by a single vote last season.
“I missed the calendar by one vote so this season I want to work hard so that I can be one of the finalists this season.
“And it is in such high-profile games that you are easily noticed if you make an impact,” he said.
Former CAPS United goalkeeper Tafadzwa Dube said they were familiar with many of the Green Machine players.
Taurai Mangwiro’s team has some of the best midfielders in the league such as Raphael Manuvire and Ronald “Rooney” Chitiyo.
Online Reporter