Muparati upbeat

Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
DYNAMOS vice-captain Tawanda Muparati says the Glamour Boys are determined to maintain supremacy in the Mbada Diamonds Cup as they prepare to launch a new assault in the 2013 edition with a tricky tie against Tripple B at Gibbo this Sunday.
DeMbare have won the first two editions of this lucrative tournament and are gunning for their third title. The Glamour Boys have become so attached to this cup as they are the only team that have won the cup since it was introduced in 2011. Dynamos beat Motor Action in the final of the inaugural tournament at the National Sports Stadium to pocket US$75 000. They then repeated the same feat last year when they edged Monomotapa to pocket the winners’ cheque of US$120 000.

The tournament’s organisers have decided to increase the package again this year and with US$130 000 at the stake for the winning team, Muparati yesterday said Dynamos are not prepared to let go easily.
“This cup will not go anywhere else,” said Muparati.

“We are more determined to win it again this year. Everyone in the camp shares the same sentiments and we have been working hard as a team to make sure that we don’t disappoint.”

On face value, it appears Dynamos have an easy assignment against the Premiership debutants Tripple B but the champions might not have quickly forgotten the priceless lessons they got from Quelaton last year.

DeMbare counted themselves lucky on a difficult afternoon against the minnows when they forced their way through to the quarter-finals via a penalty shootout after surviving a scare by the newboys.

DeMbare were held to a 1-1 draw during normal play and then edged their lowly opponents 4-2 after the penalty shootout. Muparati yesterday said they drew some important lessons from that experience and will be more careful this time around. DeMbare and Tripple B have met once this year in competitive matches with the Glamour Boys pulling their first away win this season against the Beitbridge side in a match played at neutral venue at Mandava.