adminin a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Rufaro tomorrow.
City rivals CAPS United will also be involved in a crucial search for maximum points away at Hwange as they seek to strengthen their place in the top half of the table while Highlanders and Chicken Inn clash in a Bulawayo derby at Barbourfields.
Murape yesterday said DeMbare, who are facing serious challenges in defence of their title this year, remain upbeat despite experiencing mixed fortunes in recent matches coupled with the never-ending injury woes in their camp.
However, the Glamour Boys will be seeking to bounce back to winning ways following their disappointing outing in Bulawayo last week where they fell 1-0 to Premiership debutants How Mine, which was their second defeat in 16 league games this year.
Ironically, Buffaloes were the first team to beat them this year when they posted a shock 3-2 result at Sakubva last month to end a proud run of 20 matches without defeat that had stretched from last season.
Murape yesterday said the Glamour Boys will be looking forward to get their campaign back on track despite missing a host of their strikers due to injuries.
“Of course, Buffaloes beat us at Sakubva and last week we lost again at How Mine. It happens in football but what is important is to find ways to bounce back to winning ways.
“The good thing is that most of our players are now in great shape and we only need to improve in front of goal. We created many chances against How Mine last week but we couldn’t convert.
“I hope this time we will come right,” said Murape.
The club’s leading scorer Washington Pakamisa, Francisco Zekumbawira and Patrick Khumbula are doubtful starters as they have failed to recover fully from various knocks.
They were joined on the sidelines by versatile midfielder Thomas Magorimbo who has also been ruled out because of injury as Dynamos go into the match with a depleted squad again.
To make matters worse for coach Callisto Pasuwa and his technical team, in-form defensive midfielder Devon Chafa and leftback Ocean Mushure are not available as they are currently with the national team in Zambia for the Cosafa Cup tournament.
“We would love to have all the players in the team because if you look at guys like Pakamisa and Khumbula they have been scoring the goals for us.
“So we just wish them a speedy recovery. We miss them a lot, the same with those who have gone to the Cosafa tournament.
“The challenge is now on the other guys since we have 30 registered players. We have been in such situations before but the aim is to remain focused on the job at hand, which is to collect maximum points,” said Murape.
Only six points separate the teams on the log standings with Dynamos sitting on fifth position with 28 points.
Unlike his DeMbare counterpart, Buffaloes coach Timothy Masachi has all his players fit and ready for battle except for midfielder Prosper Matizanadzo who is with the national team at the Cosafa tournament in Zambia.
Masachi, however, remains optimistic despite losing to the Harare giants in their last meeting in the BancABC Sup8r quarterfinals at Gibbo a fortnight ago.
Buffaloes thrashed newboys Tripple B 5-1 last week and appear to be in a good frame of mind to upset the Harare giants again.
Masachi yesterday sounded upbeat and made the army side’s intentions clear.
“It’s game on. We are coming there to play for three points. That is the motive but if that cannot happen we will still be satisfied to get a point,” said Masachi.
“I am glad we have no injuries to talk about in our camp and everyone is looking forward to the game.
“Morale is high especially after that big win over Tripple B but we should bear in mind that we are now facing a bigger team.
“So we will need to raise our game.”
Buffaloes are currently eighth on the log standings with 22 points following a slump in form midway through the first half of the season which led to the departure of former coach Saul Chaminuka.
The new man in charge Masachi, who was working as Chaminuka’s understudy, said the army side are hoping for a change of fortunes during this last lap.
“It has not been a smooth journey but we not very far from the leading teams.
“If you remember well, we had a good start this year but we were disturbed at one point when results did not come as we had hoped.
“Still we are looking forward to a good finish,” said Masachi.
Fixtures
Tomorrow
Shabanie Mine v Black Mambas (Maglas)
Chicken Inn v Highlanders (Barbourfields)
Triangle v How Mine (Gibbo),
Dynamos v Buffaloes (Rufaro),
Hwange v CAPS United (Colliery)
Online Reporter