There are several compelling reasons why the big Harare derby between Caps United and Dynamos tomorrow cannot be missed.
It is the biggest derby in the country and arguably the fieriest topflight club contest in the land. Of course, Highlanders faithful would frown at this suggestion, but there is a lot more than just the three points at stake.
The frenzied build-up to this blockbuster collision says it all and it’s improbable that this could turn out to be a damp squib.
This is no ordinary match and even by the time the last piece of debris is brushed off the National Sports Stadium stands, the contest will still be dominating dialogue or debate in the streets and in the social media space alike.
Each and every player involved in the derby will be hoping that they will be the straw that stirs their team and claim space in prime sports pages.
Not that its raging fires need any more fueling but the form of the two clubs going into this edition of the derby has just stoked the ambers.
Caps United failed to muster a win in their last two matches but not that they will be too disappointed as they played champions FC Platinum and last season’s third place finishers Chicken Inn.
Two points from two of the toughest contests in the league is by no means failure and they will go into the derby with their tails up, moreso as they are yet to taste defeat and with their defense having been breached just once yet.
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The Green Machine are burning bright and hope they can be too hot for Dynamos to handle. They flirted with relegation last season and ended up in the mid -able zone of irrelevance.
Even after sharing spoils with FC Platinum and Chicken Inn, Chitembwe believes the bigger challenge comes tomorrow.
“We are ready for Dynamos”
“We expect a difficult game. I am sure those (Dynamos) players are professionals enough to separate between one bad performance and to focus on putting up a good performance. We expect a spirited and focused Dynamos and this is how we have been preparing for this match. It will probably be one of our biggest matches so far this season,” Chitembwe said
For Dynamos, a derby win could be the spark that will see them catch fire in a season where nothing short of glory will be acceptable considering that they are celebrating their 60th birthday this year.
With Dynamos’ struggles of late, that they can beat Caps United probably sounds fanciful, but well this is a derby and the Glamour Boys will be prepared to shed sweat and blood in the hope of making their fans the happiest of the two sets.
DeMbare suffered the shame of handing Bulawayo Chiefs their first win of the season, which triggered protests and fury, but a derby win would certainly erase the bad memories of last week.
There is swelling sentiment against Herbert Maruwa’s ability to steer this big ship, but he knows just one game can change everything and it’s this big Harare derby which carries more weight than any other game for DeMbare.
To give him his dues, his team has started off fairly brightly — one defeat from five is by no means a disaster and they are just but four points shy of leaders Caps with a match in hand.
“The boys are ready for the match, no injury worries; the team is ready to play Caps. It's one of the games where the players are motivated to do well,” said Maruwa.
“A win will bring good for us. It will make life easier for us going into the next games. We need to go into this match with a positive mind. We are not under pressure going into this match. They are under pressure because they are the log leaders. We will go out and play out normal game, try to collect maximum points.”
Whatever happens in the 90 minutes tomorrow, what is certain is that the National Sports Stadium will be rocking and who wants to miss such cheap and enthralling entertainment?
Bring on the big Harare derby.
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