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Tadious Manyepo-Sports Reporter
DYNAMOS assistant coach Murape Murape has challenged the new brooms at the Glamour Boys to prove their mettle in the Harare Derby against CAPS United at the National Sports Stadium tomorrow.
DeMbare have predominantly new players who have never tasted how it feels to play in the famed Harare Derby.
And the epic showdown has come at a time when the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League giants are at a low ebb.
They are winless in the past three league games.
They are seventh on the log with eight points to their name after five games under head coach Herber “Jompano” Maruwa.
They are four points adrift of leaders Makepekepe who have played a game more than Maruwa’s charges.
And Murape, a veteran of the Harare Derby since 1998, believes the Dynamos youngsters have what it takes to beat their nemesis tomorrow. “Derby games have everything at stake. These are the games that we should put friendships aside.
“Even if you have a friend at CAPS United, that has to be shelved. You can’t even greet one another even before the game. This is how we used to do it. You can only shake hands with a smile after the final whistle.
“Derbies are defined by body language,” said Murape.
“These are games where heroes are born. These are the games where you can write your name in bold ink like what the Murape Murapes, the Moses Chungas and Tauya Murehwas did in their hey days.
“These are the games that will make your name stay on everyone’s lips.
“It is what you do on the day. If you do well, you get remembered as that class of 2023 which beat CAPS United.
“You need to have a strong mentality. You can do it that’s why you are at Dynamos.
“But you need to show character and justify why you deserve to play for Dynamos.
“I believe we have the quality that can bring Dynamos to where the team belongs.
“We have to win. Everything has been set before.” Murape said there is more at stake in matches against CAPS United than just the three points. “Being someone who grew up in the Dynamos system, from the juniors up to the first team, there are things that you are taught from an early age. “Beating CAPS United is one of the key requirements when one is playing for Dynamos.
“There is no room for negotiations when it comes to beating CAPS United.
“And for me, this game (tomorrow) has come at the right time,” he said. “We have played three league games without winning and we are pumped up. “There is nothing that beats the feeling of winning against CAPS United.
“Form doesn’t count when it comes to these matches. What counts is the heart, the passion and the commitment to up the fight to win.
“Whenever we meet CAPS United, we have to win, no matter the odds or the costs.
“That’s the DNA which should define Dynamos just like what we used to do as we grew up in the system. “This generation of players at Dynamos right now should emulate that.”
The 2007 Soccer Star of the Year said the current squad should understand that playing for Dynamos comes with a huge responsibility.
“They should understand what it means to be playing for Dynamos when we play derbies like this one. What it demands, these are the things which we need to know.
“The current Dynamos crop should revive the yesteryear spirit to be able to win.
“Normally, if you win against CAPS United, you will pick the much-needed confidence going forward,” said Murape.
“When we look at the quality we have, people were demanding to see us play beautiful football, we have tried that. The team is able to play a passing game but now we need to score goals. I am sure goals are coming.
“We believe that we have enough ingredients and firepower to be able to win our matches. It’s only about correcting where we have been falling short in terms of making mistakes.
Online Reporter