The Sunday Mail
IT’S April Fool’s Day today but Lloyd Mutasa and his men cannot indulge in any monkey business.
Having amassed the grand total of a single point in their opening three matches, Dynamos cannot afford another slip up against old enemy Highlanders in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League tie at Rufaro Stadium tomorrow.
There was no time to rest at DeMbare after last Thursday’s 0-1 loss to Ngezi Platinum Stars as Mutasa ordered a light training session on a drear Good Friday for the Glamour Boys. Dynamos held another training session at Motor Action Sports Club yesterday and the team goes into camp this morning ahead of tomorrow’s blockbuster clash.
It’s a meeting of two youthful sides with contrasting fortunes.
DeMbare are yet to win in 2018, having also lost to Chicken Inn (0-1) in the opening week before blowing a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3 against Shabanie at Rufaro last Sunday.
The character of Mutasa’s side has been questioned after that dramatic late collapse against Shabanie Mine.
And Mutasa is hoping his players will regain their winning mentality.
“We are ready for Highlanders, the boys are hungry for a positive result,” Mutasa told The Sunday Mail yesterday.
“After a slow start we intend tot turn the corner on Monday against a strong opposition.”
DeMbare skipper Ocean Mushure is pleading for patience for the club’s fans.
“Fans should keep believing, they should come in numbers to support us. They also need to give the youngsters we have some more time to adjust to the demands at Dynamos. Once we find a winning formula we will be difficult to stop.”
On the other hand, Bosso arrive in town carrying seven points, having conceded just once in three matches.
They beat Black Rhinos 2-1, Herentals 2-0 before and drew 0-0 with Triangle at Barbourfields on Good Friday; and the Bulawayo giants are enjoying their finest start to a season in five years.
The last time Highlanders won their opening two matches was in 2013 and Bosso coach Madinda Ndlovu feels his boys are moving in the right direction.
“People thought were going to be the whipping boys but we are doing well. We only need to manage these boys,” Ndlovu said.
The last time these two titans of local football met at Rufaro in a league match was on a cataclysmic September 10, 2017 afternoon.
DeMbare’s Christian Joel Epoupa scored in the first minute before being ejected from the game by Masvingo referee Arnold Ncube who showed a red card three minutes from time for head-butting Peter Muduhwa.
Zifa president Philip Chiyangwa embarrassed himself when he unsuccessfully tried to rescind Epoupa’s red card. Epoupa is not part of tomorrow’s action as the Cameroonian is still owed his signing-on fees despite numerous promises from Dynamos.
It appears Epoupa, DeMbare’s top scorer with 12 goals last season, is now on his way out of the Glamour Boys.
There are no such issues at Highlanders where man-of-the-moment Nigel Makumbe is in terrific form.
The 21-year-old Makumbe has provided all the assists in Highlanders’ four goals and is expected to light up Rufaro. Former Hwange player Newman Sianchali, Adrian Silla and Ozias Zibande are some of the players to watch out for from Bosso.
Dynamos, though, enjoy a massive head-to-head superiority over Highlanders in the last 10 seasons.
The two have met 20 times in the league in that period with DeMbare boasting 10 wins against Bosso’s two. Eight encounters ended in stalemates.
The last time sides faced off on the Monday after Easter, it was a tension-filled goalless draw at Barbourfields on April 25, 2011 when then DeMbare skipper Murape Murape saw red for a foul-mouthed rant at referee Nkosana Nduna. Rufaro hosts the latest edition of the rivalry between Zimbabwe’s two biggest clubs. Kick-off is 3pm and the cheapest ticket is $3.
