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Sports Stadium on Sunday.
Tsipa, who has just shaken off an injury that ruled him out of the league encounter against FC Platinum, returned to training this week with Evans Gwekwerere, who was away in South Africa for trials at Orlando Pirates.
The duo’s return also means that coach Lloyd Chitembwe will have two of his most experienced forwards available for the high profile derby that s already been dubbed as the Diamonds Cup final before the final. Tsipa and another veteran of the famous Harare derbies David Sengu yesterday stressed that the Green Machine would not exert too much pressure on themselves by looking at their earlier results against Dynamos this season.
The teams have met three times so far this year and Makepekepe were on the receiving end on all those occasions after losing the pre-season Bob ‘87 Cup and then relinquishing all six points in the league competition. Tsipa said CAPS would not be out for revenge but promised DeMbare a good run as they are eager to stop the run of poor fortunes against their rivals.
“I have played in the derbies for some time and to tell the truth it hurts so much to lose to Dynamos. It’s something that we just don’t take lightly.
“They are our traditional football rivals and everyone who has taken part in these duels knows how much it means to beat them,” he said.
Tsipa has, however, not been able to command a first team jersey since his return to Makepekepe at the beginning of the second half and the cameo roles he has been playing are yet to yield goals for him.
“It’s unfortunate I only played one minute the last time against Dynamos and I hope the coaches will give me a run on Sunday. I have to work hard for that. Morale in the camp is high and everyone wants this opportunity.
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“Hopefully we will beat Dynamos and go all the way to win the cup and play in the Confederation Cup next year.
“Everyone is happy with the way we are doing business under our new coaches. They are trying their best to motivate us and they are teaching us good values of fair play, which I hope will prevail on Sunday,” he said.
Defender Sengu, who made his derby debut in 2004 under Charles Mhlauri, echoed Tsipa’s sentiments and hinted that another defeat at the hands of their rivals would be difficult to bear.
Sengu is expected to provide stability at the back and his experience will be vital in games of this magnitude.
“This is a game with a different meaning. Derbies everywhere always have a unique atmosphere, which is usually tense, and with that comes the pressure.
“Just like when Orlando Pirates play Kaizer Chiefs in South Africa there are lots of expectations and both teams will be under pressure from the word go.
“But we just have to express ourselves and try as much as we can to win the game and go through to the next round,” said Sengu.
Winners will proceed to the quarter-finals where they meet either Hwange or Shooting Stars who meet in another first round match at Barbourfields on Saturday.
“We are aware of the expectations and what we want now is to win against Dynamos. It’s not about the revenge but ever since I started playing for CAPS United winning the Harare derby is something that everyone at CAPS United longs for.
“It has been like that but the atmosphere has changed a bit of late because I just feel that our games against Dynamos are no longer as tense as they used to be. The tension used to spur us on and I wish everyone at CAPS would understand the meaning of winning the derby and hopefully we get the desired results on Sunday,” said Sengu.
CAPS will be aiming to upstage their opponents and stop the bullying they have been subjected to by Dynamos in the last two years.
The last time the teams met DeMbare won 2-1 courtesy of a Roderick Mutuma brace while Gwekwerere drew one back for Makepekepe.
DeMbare may have hit top form in the league in their last four outings but the Glamour Boys are fully aware that current form usually counts for little in such matches. Assistant coach Tonderai Ndiraya branded the weekend clash as the ‘final in the first round’ and said they would not be fooled into complacency by the results of their recent meetings.
DeMbare are however hoping that chief striker Cuthbert Malajila regains fitness in time for the massive showdown. Malajila suffered a groin strain in their emphatic 4-0 win over Zimbabwe Saints at Rufaro where he had opened the scoring for his side just before the break.
“Derbies are usually difficult to predict but one team has to win on Sunday. Usually the team that wants it more will win on the day.
“It’s going to be tough and I think strong mental character plays an important role. We have to be psychologically prepared,” he said.
Although he welcomed the draw, Ndiraya however said he would have preferred to meet the Green Machine at a later date to preserve the interest beyond the first round since Dynamos and CAPS have the biggest appeal in the Premiership.
“If I had it my way, I wouldn’t have wanted them to meet at this stage for obvious reasons. These are the two clubs which draw the most crowds and if we meet in the first round then this would take away some of the glitter from the competition at that stage.
“As it stands, one giant will fall in the first round and it’s not good for the tournament. We are working to make sure that it won’t be us,” said Ndiraya.
Fixtures
Saturday
Highlanders v Zimbabwe Saints (Colliery), FC Platinum v Black Mambas (Gibbo), Chicken Inn v Kiglon (Mucheke), Hwange v Shooting Stars (Barbourfields)
Sunday
Motor Action v Monomotapa (Sakubva), Dynamos v CAPS United (National Sports Stadium), Blue Ribbon v Shabanie Mine (Ascot), Gunners v Masvingo (Nyamhunga).
Online Reporter