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Eddie Chikamhi-Senior Sports Reporter
HE may have hung his boots and currently has nothing official to do with his former club Dynamos but the game, particularly the Harare Derby, still brings an overflow of emotions.
This is the reason legendary former Dynamos captain Murape Murape has embarked on a relentless social media campaign this week in a quest to boost attendances for the big game between Dynamos and CAPS United at the National Sports Stadium tomorrow.
This latest edition of the derby, which is expected to bring the curtain down on a rather forgettable season for the two Harare giants, risks being the worst in terms of poor attendances.
The traditional giants have struggled to attract decent crowds to their football matches all season. And, for the last 10 days, the former Dynamos captain has posted consistently about the heydays when fans used to fill up the stadium.
This season, the situation in the terraces was sad. Dynamos supporters, in particular, have argued their team has been playing boring football, with no results, hence they had no compelling reason to throng the stadium as they did in the past.
The recent the Battle of Zimbabwe against Highlanders when less than 2 000 paying fans were recorded for one of the biggest matches on the PSL calendar was a case in point. At its peak, the duel could attract a capacity crowd in the regions of 30 000 to 40 000 at Rufaro.
CAPS United have also been deserted by their fans after spending most of the season in the relegation matrix. But Murape yesterday told The Herald that the soul of the Harare Derby needed to be preserved.
“I am passionate about football; I am passionate about Dynamos. It’s a big team but what troubles me is that the large crowds that we used to get at the stadium are now a thing of the past.
“It’s insulting to the brand to hear a club like Herentals claiming that they are attracting more supporters than Dynamos to their football games at home.
“Whether that is true or not, it’s a story for another day. The bottom line is that Dynamos fans are not going to the stadium in their numbers as they used to.
“Fans have been complaining about boring football. Maybe they have a point. They have to be listened to and teams have to do something about this.
“But I am saying this is the Harare Derby and it’s the last game of the season, so the idea is to go and show love to our teams. Let’s go there and enjoy ourselves.
“Throughout history, the Harare Derby has always been the most watched game in Harare. It can happen again.
“Of course, I am no longer at Dynamos in any offiicial capacity but, as a former player, this is a club that I hold closer to my heart. Now, I am a Dynamos supporter and I have to encourage fellow supporters to do the right thing for football.
“I am also appealing to the CAPS United fans to come in their numbers. Our teams have gone through a difficult period.
“So, let’s forget about the boring football, let’s embrace our players, let’s support them by creating a carnival atmosphere. Maybe the quality of the game will improve because as supporters we would have created the right atmosphere for football.
“These guys need encouragement, rather than rejection. I know the Dynamos and CAPS United fans love their teams, but circumstances may have forced the poor attendances this season.
“So, I am thinking this is the last game of the season, let us all Dynamos and CAPS United supporters, go in our numbers and support our teams, singing and dancing to good old songs of our respective teams, just for the love and support of our teams. No hate songs but just pure love and support for our teams. I will be there,” said Murape.
However, the duel does not carry much for the two Harare giants as it comes at a time when the league title was already won by FC Platinum for the fourth time in a row.
The platinum miners, who are 12 points clear of competition, are set to be crowned today in Zvishavane after their game against Cranborne Bullets.
Dynamos, on the other hand, are looking to wrestle second place from Chicken Inn but they have since lost control of their fate after slumping three points behind the Gamecocks ahead of the last game of the season.
CAPS United also do not have much as they are going to finish in the bottom 10 of the table, whether they win or not tomorrow. They are 11th, five points behind 10th-placed Manica Diamonds.
Despite the circumstances, Murape said he always hold the Harare Derby in high regard, from his days as a youth development player at Dynamos. He also challenged the current crop of players to step up to the plate in order to win the hearts of the highly demanding DeMbare fans.
“The derby was very significant during our days. It started from the juniors where we played each other in the junior football league.
“We grew up with that mentality. On our side it was not allowed to lose to CAPS United. If it happened that we lost, it had to show that we had put our best fight.
“The same was with CAPS United. A win for any of the sides did not come cheap. Players went beyond limits and that is also the stage when new stars were born.
“As players we would look up the calendar at the start of the season to see when the Derby was coming. It was the most anticipated game to the extent that we felt like all the other games were in preparation of the Derby.
“So, the challenge is for every new Dynamos player to research more about what it means to play for this club and in particular the big matches against CAPS United and Highlanders,” said Murape.
Dynamos and CAPS United supporters are also mobilising for the Derby, and they are set to participate in a road show from the CBD to the National Sports Stadium tomorrow.
Dynamos Supporters Association Harare Chapter Secretary-General Benevolent Vono told The Herald that the Harare Derby should remind the football people of “the good old days.”
“Of course, this has been a difficult season for us, and CAPS United as well. We did not enjoy football this year, so this is just a way of trying to entertain ourselves.
“This being the last game of the season, we are calling on all supporters, Dynamos or CAPS United and neutrals, to come together in this show of our passion for the game. We want to demonstrate that our teams can be rivals on the football pitch but we can still enjoy the game together in a peaceful and friendly environment.”
CAPS United coach Lloyd Chitembwe told journalists that the Green Machine supporters deserve a special match to compensate for their loyalty.
“We will be trying to bring smiles to the faces of our fans. This is one game that literally has nothing at stake other than the historical sense behind this match.
“The fans stood by the team. It’s not about individuals as I feel the team is bigger than mere individuals. They stood by the team, and I am confident it will be crucial for the next season. They deserve a very special mention as moral support was very key,” said Chitembwe.
Fixtures
Today: FC Platinum v Cranborne Bullets (Mandava, 1pm), ZPC Kariba v Herentals (Nyamhunga, 1pm), Black Rhinos v Bulawayo City (Vengere, 1pm), Ngezi Platinum Stars v Whawha (Baobab), Chicken Inn v Triangle (Luveve), Harare City v Highlanders (NSS)
Tomorrow: Tenax v Manica Diamonds (Sakubva), Bulawayo Chiefs v Yadah (Luveve), Dynamos v CAPS United (NSS)
Online Reporter