DeMbare, Harare City renew rivalry

27 Apr, 2014 - 00:04 0 Views
DeMbare, Harare City renew rivalry Harare City must find a way to shut out livewire Dynamos attacker Ronald "RC7" Chitiyo who has been the champions' standout performer so far

The Sunday Mail

Harare City must find a way to shut out livewire Dynamos attacker Ronald "RC7" Chitiyo who has been the champions' standout performer so far

Harare City must find a way to shut out livewire Dynamos attacker Ronald “RC7” Chitiyo who has been the champions’ standout performer so far

Ishemunyoro Chingwere
Municipal side Harare City take their search for their first ever point in the current Castle Lager Premier Soccer League to the National Sports Stadium where the defending champions lie in ambush this afternoon. The Sunshine Boys, whose 54 points were the same as those that won Dynamos the premiership crown, albeit with a superior goal difference, are the only side yet to pick a point in the current campaign and find themselves in unfamiliar territory, at the foot of the standings, going into round four of fixtures.

Coach Bigboy Mawiwi has inevitably had his pedigree questioned by a section of the team’s leadership who have conveniently forgotten the champagne they popped at the end of last season when the gaffer was crowned the league’s shrewdest brains by picking the Coach of the Year accolade.

Mawiwi has had to grapple with a leadership that not only doubts his astuteness to lead the municipal side especially against the background of sizeable financial investment that has seen them rolling out the red carpet to the country’s leading prospects among them Mhleli Sibanda, Benson Maglasi and Takudzwa Chimwemwe in the close season but also has to prove that his team selection is purely based on merit.

As he seeks to re-assert his authority at Town House, Mawiwi – who only last season had already bagged six points at this stage – has a daunting task against a Dynamos side who are surprisingly pointless at home having picked all their six on the road.

“We are paying the prize for the very high standards that we set for ourselves last season,” Mawiwi told The Sunday Mail Sport.
“We performed beyond expectations last season and a lot is expected of us this season. But I am happy the boys are taking everything within their stride and are not panicking yet.

“The slow start obviously worries us but the end season goals we set ourselves to achieve are still attainable and hopefully the recovery path will start today against Dynamos,” said Mawiwi.

Worryingly, as he plots for a change in fortunes, Mawiwi would have to do so without a number of his players among them former Dynamos sprinter Martin Vengesayi who has a boil on the head.

Goalkeeper Maxwell Nyamupanedengu (knee), midfielders Nathan Ziwini, Mhleli Sibanda and Munyaradzi Kunyarimwe are all doubtful, but Mawiwi put up a brave face saying he registered 32 players and should still be able to pick a competitive side from the pool. Champions Dynamos, whom Mawiwi equated to “any other team” in the 16-team league, have had a good start, winning two of their three assignments but unlike last season where they were on a roller coaster in the capital, are yet to win in Harare this term.

The Harare giants have struggled in attack dating back to the time when stocky Takesure Chinyama swapped their blue and white colours for Orlando Pirates’ black and white in 2012.
Simba Sithole has flattered to deceive just as another former Caps United son Washington Pakamisa.

But DeMbare, whose goal return is only better to the trio of City, Chiredzi FC and Black Rhinos, are not “really worried” as to the identity of the scorers for as long as the goals are coming.

“We are not really worried as to where the goals are coming from. What we want at the end of the day are goals but who particularly buries the ball home is not a major issue.

We scored three away to Bantu last week and I don’t think it’s fair to then say we are struggling in front of goal,” assistant coach Tichaona Diya told reporters last week.

DeMbare will again call on Artwell Mukandi in the absence of regular starter George Chigova who is in South Africa finalising his impending move to Supersport.

Cliff Sekete, who rose from the bench and turned on the power against Bantu on Easter Monday, is struggling with a groin and is a major doubt today and joins long-time absentees Tawanda Muparati and Masimba Mambare on the sidelines.

DeMbare will look up to their outstanding player so far, Ronald “RC7” Chitiyo. to unlock City’s resolve and register their first home win.

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