adminZvishavane Derby at Mandava tomorrow.
Makonese, who has also been playing as a striker at Shabanie, is expected to use his experience to lead the side as they seek revenge after a 0-3 mauling in the reverse fixture.
While FC Platinum are vying for the championship, Shabanie Mine are at the extreme end of the table seeking solutions to their relegation woes.
“I will be captaining the team on Sunday. The hype for this encounter started last month and we have been told that we can lose to other teams in the Premiership but not to FC Platinum.
“I will make sure that we will give it our best on Sunday and bring a positive result. My appeal to the young players is not to lose focus. We need to concentrate and not to panic because there is a lot of pride at stake in this match.
“I have played in high-profile matches before and I am treating this match just like any other game.
“If I get the chance I will score but I am not so sure which position I will be playing on the day. I will just give it my best and if I get half a chance I will bury it,” said the 34-year-old veteran.
Shabanie left town yesterday with 22 players to a secret camping place and will only be back on Sunday for the big match.
Jani Milanzi, the Shabanie assistant coach, was suspended on Tuesday amid a flurry of allegations levelled against him and will not be on the bench tomorrow. Shabanie lost the first encounter to FC Platinum with Charles Sibanda converting a penalty in the 6th minute and Donald Ngoma scoring a double.
The asbestos miners got their face saver from former Lancashire Steel defender Caleb Masocha and the goal was celebrated as if Shabanie had won the league.
Meanwhile the wars of words has already started. Shabanie coach Luke Masomere yesterday sent a bold message to FC Platinum ahead of the Zvishavane derby tomorrow afternoon.
“We are brothers, neighbours and we are their big brothers. We have been there for a long time before they got promoted in the elite league.
“Big brothers do not always beat young brothers all the time but on Sunday we are just going to lose respect for just 90 minutes and beat them. “They are a brilliant team, they have a right footed back, left footed back, three very good goalkeepers and good defence. They are just good in everything but we are also equally good.
“Since Monday until Friday my training is centred on beating FC Platinum. I will take it just like any other game.
“We are fighting relegation we need life and FC Platinum are targeting the championship,” said Masomere.
Masomere has on several occasions openly said he is a Dynamos fan and he has made a plea to the DeMbare fans to come and rally behind Shabanie.
Shabanie are fourth from the bottom and needs at least two victories against FC Platinum (away), Caps United (home) Chicken Inn (away) and Highlanders at home if they are entertaining any hopes of playing in the Premiership next season.
FC Platinum believe they will win tomorrow.
“Shabanie need maximum points to avoid relegation and we need maximum points to lift the championship,” said FC Platinum secretary Philemon Muvengwa.
“There is no way we can lose that game. I think it is going to be a very good game for the Zvishavane community as it is a bonus match. They will get more than what they are going to pay for.
“The match is going to be tightly contested and maybe difficult but we are ready for them.
“They are visiting us at the wrong time. Shabanie has a big fan base and they don’t need Dynamos fans for them to win the match.”
Online Reporter