Although the home team Caps United have pegged the cheapest seat at $5 instead of the Premier Soccer League Congress’ agreed fee of $3, all roads should be leading to the giant stadium in what has been the most talked about Premiership pairing of the week.
Although clashes between the two teams always attract a huge crowd, what has raised the appetite even more is the fact that Makepekepe are desperate to appease their fans for the first time in four years failed to beat Dynamos since 2009.
On the other hand, Dynamos who are still to lose a game in their 2013 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League campaign are eager to continue their roll over Caps and also maintain their unbeaten run in the league.
The two teams are locked at 15 points each from nine matches and a defeat for any of them will leave them trailing their rivals, something that none of the two sets of supporters would love to see that happen to their team.
But the question is :Will the Caps United’s blend of youth and experience be able to inflict the first defeat on the reigning Zimbabwe champions ?
The Green Machine’s coach Taurai Mangwiro says he is not under any pressure as his charges are the underdogs.
“We are not under any pressure. Dynamos are the team that have something on their plate. We are going into the game to come out with a good result. That is all,” says Mangwiro.
Although the team’s fans are so far happy with their team’s start to the season, a defeat against Dynamos is the worst thing they need in their lives. Mangwiro is well aware of the huge expectations of his team’s fans and is hoping that his talisman Ronald Pfumbidzai lives up to his billing.
Pfumbidzai has suddenly transformed himself into Caps single protagonist, creating chances for some and also scoring himself, something that has earned him the confidence of the horde of followers.
More importantly is the fact that Pfumbidzai has something to prove having been named the Premiership player of the month for his role in the Caps resurgence.
Pfumbidzai should have the support of another new hero at the Green Machine Dominic Chungwa who is also on a roll with four goals. In addition Caps also has Rahman Kutsanzira who is likely to come off the bench to kill off the game should the team be deadlocked towards the end.
The defence, though, has always been a cause for concern even during the good old days of the Shacky Tauro, Joel Shambo, Stanley Ndunduma, Stix Mtizwa and Friday Phiri era. In that respect, captain Tapuwa Khumbuyani and his troops have to produce something more astounding that in the past to keep the marauding Dynamos strikers at bay.
On the other hand, it is ironic that Dynamos hope for success rests with a former Caps United son, Washington Pakamisa. Pakamisa’s imaginative moves and key goals have helped Dynamos win their past three games, and move up the ladder.
Having left Caps at a time he was needed most, Pakamisa should be more worried about crowd hostility than the Green machine defenders as has been the tradition he is likely to be booed every time he gets possession.
That should leave the way for Farai Mupasiri and Patrick Khumbula to shine. Waiting too should be new signings Francesco Zekumbawira, and Byron Madzokere, who have to justify the huge amounts Dynamos paid for their services.
The last time the two teams met at the National Sports Stadium was a disaster for the Green Machine with a 3-0 mauling with Mupasiri, Cliff Sekete and the suspended Guthrie Zhokini getting the goals but this is a new game and a new season altogether.
Post published in: Sport