Online Reporter
Innocent Kurira, Zimpapers Sports Hub
FORGET the “Battle of Zimbabwe.” That tired old rivalry is dead. This weekend, all eyes are on the real show: MWOS versus Scottland at Ngoni Stadium. Tickets are gone, the ground will be packed, and frankly, it’s about time. These new boys are not just winning; they are playing proper football, running a professional outfit, and injecting some much-needed life into a stagnant league.
While the old guard wallows, these two are proving exactly what Zimbabwean football could be. But let’s not get carried away — it’s still the “Battle of Zimbabwe” in some way, so let’s see if the two faded giants can reignite the fire.
“Well, I wouldn’t say the match has lost its hype and vibe entirely. It has lost its vibe in Harare simply because of wars between Dynamos and its fans. If it had lost the vibe, we wouldn’t be having Dynamos fans arranging press conferences. If it was in Bulawayo, it was going to have a different vibe and hype. MWOS vs Scottland is just a D1 beef that will vanish once one gets its revenge,” said football blogger Buhle Ncube.
The decline of once-dominant Dynamos and Highlanders starkly contrasts with the rise of new teams. Once the darlings of Zimbabwean football with fervent support, they’re now shadows of their former selves, struggling both on and off the pitch.
“Dynamos and Highlanders are legendary because of their trophy collections. Nothing boosts a club’s reputation more than a history of victories. But today, these two giants are a pale shadow of themselves. Financial mismanagement, poor boardroom decisions, a decline in performance, lack of vibrant youth development, and the loss of star players have all played a role.
“Those glory days can still be resuscitated with good leadership, financial stability, employment of competent football practitioners not this mismatching of skills and embracing mediocrity. These clubs still have an opportunity to turn their fortunes around, but this will call for honest, robust engagements and self-introspection,” said Dalu Bhebhe feels the two teams are shadows of their former selves.
Sunday’s match at Rufaro Stadium still matters, according to Highlanders coach Kelvin Kaindu, who insists it retains its stature.
“This is not just a game. This is a big game. Regardless of where they are on the table, this is a different game. You can see the boys’ concentration, how everyone is pushing. There’s a lot at stake, just for you to pick up those maximum points. It definitely brings back confidence,” said Kaindu.
Dynamos, meanwhile, are languishing near the relegation zone with a dismal record of just one win from 14 games. Head coach Saul Chaminuka has admitted the team is “still finding its feet.”
“We have been working hard, and we are yet to build on the progress. This is probably the biggest game in the first round of matches. I don’t see Dynamos losing two games on the trot. There’s definitely been an improvement. We have scored in back-to-back fixtures. But my only worry is our defence, we need to keep clean sheets.”
Fixtures:
Saturday:
ZPC Kariba v Yadah ( Nyamhunga), TelOne v FC Platinum (Ascot), Herentals v Bikita Minerals (Rufaro), Simba Bhora v Ngezi Platinum Stars (Wadzanayi), Chicken Inn v Triangle (Luveve), MWOS v Scottland (Ngoni)
Sunday:
Dynamos v Highlanders (Rufaro), Kwekwe United v GreenFuel (Bata)
l And for those who can’t make it to Ngoni this afternoon: You can catch every second of the drama from the MWOS vs Scottland match live on our sister TV channel, ZTN Prime (Channel 294 on DStv), with an extended pre-match build-up from 2 PM.
