BY MUNYARADZI MADZOKERE
DYNAMOS may not be in the title race but Tonderai Ndiraya’s side could have a big say in who eventually wins the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League championship, starting with today’s potentially explosive big Harare derby clash against CAPS United at the National Sports Stadium.
Log leaders CAPS United head into the match in desperate need of maximum points as they bid for a second league title in three years, but they face a seemingly invincible arch-rival Dynamos, boasting of a 19 match unbeaten streak.
Although Dynamos are already out of the league title race and are not really in danger of relegation, besides the obvious bragging rights associated with a clash of this magnitude, the Tonderai Ndiraya coached side have bigger ambitions of their own.
Dynamos, who are seeking a top four finish, have not lost a league match since June 16 when they fell to Highlanders courtesy of a Cleopas Kapupurika strike.
Since then the Harare giants have put together a 19-match invincible run, which leaves them seven games shy of the record set by the championship winning class of 2007 that went for 26 matches without a loss.
Under the tutelage of David Mandigora, Dynamos went unbeaten from May 2007 through to June 2008 and no other club side has bettered that feat.
Callisto Pasuwa’s Dembare managed 20 matches without defeat stretching from September 2012 to June 2013, both league winning campaigns.
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A win for Ndiraya in the Harare derby will see him equal Pasuwa’s record. Pasuwa, who won four consecutive league titles between 2011 and 2014 also achieved a 17-match streak in 2014 – his final season at the club.
“We will add another match (to our streak) tomorrow despite it being a derby. We want to finish the season undefeated, we want to get to 22-games without a defeat,” Ndiraya said.
“We want to finish all the games we are going to play this season without a defeat but most importantly we want maximum points so that we push into the top four for the season.
“Because of the quality we have in our team we couldn’t fight with the big boys for the title. But what we have achieved, going for 19 games unbeaten with the quality that we have in our team, with a lot of youngsters in our team is not little achievement, so that’s what is encouraging us,” he added.
Ndiraya has only lost two matches since he took the reins at Dynamos 27-matches ago but too many draws have seen him fail to put up a title challenge.
Dynamos went into the matchday 31 fixtures sitting in fifth position on the log standings with 44 points, 11 behind their opponents today.
The Glamour Boys will miss the services of Jimmy Tigere, Junior Ngahan and Robert Sackey, who are out through injury while Godknows Murwira is facing a late fitness test.
And while Ndiraya is looking to prolong the undefeated run, CAPS coach Darlington Dodo will be looking for a derby win that would certainly spur the team on in the final two matches of the season, against Ngezi Platinum and FC Platinum respectively.
CAPS’ recent form has been worrying where they managed just one win in the last five matches in which they have recorded two defeats despite leading the championship race.
A positive result in the derby will go a long way in boosting CAPS chances of clinging on for the ultimate prize.
“Derbies are always difficult and it will not be easy facing Dynamos. But I am happy we are facing them at a time they are enjoying good form. It makes it interesting, it even motivates us,” Dodo told reporters.
“But looking at the boys at training, there is great desire, there is hunger and enthusiasm. We really want to win this one and we are going for maximum points and nothing less,” he said.
CAPS’ top scorer John Zhuwawo is set to miss the big match through suspension after accumulating three yellow cards in previous matches.
Zhuwawu’s absence is major blow for CAPS, who will be needing goals against a frugal Dembare defence.
However, Dodo can still call upon Newman Sianchali, who recently rose from the bench to score a brace, which propelled them to victory against ZPC Kariba.
Goalkeeper Tonderai Mateyaunga is expected to make a return to the side after being substituted in the first half of the 2-2 draw against Yadah last weekend.
The Green Machine enjoy a two point advantage over both Chicken Inn and FC Platinum, three matches before then end of the league season.
Gate charges for the match are pegged at $20 for rest of the ground, $50 for VIP and $100 for the VVIP enclosure.
