The Sunday Mail
Makomborero Mutimukulu Sports Editor—
From the green corner, one Lloyd threw the bait; and from the blue corner, the other Lloyd swallowed it hook, line and sinker. Caps United coach Lloyd Chitembwe masterfully controlled the tempo in the build-up to the 77th Harare derby, getting the better of his Dynamos counterpart Lloyd Mutasa in the mind games.
Speaking to Star FM after his team’s impressive 3-1 win at Border Strikers last weekend, the Green Machine gaffer flattered DeMbare with wholesome praises, even as his team shot to the top of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.
Chitembwe then turned the knife, speaking of a Dynamos team struggling to convince its own supporters that they are indeed the legendary DeMbare and not any other rag tag team that wears blue and calls Rufaro its home.
“They are a very good team,” Chitembwe said, fully aware that sportscaster Godfrey Koti had no lie detector in that world class studio along Harare’s Simon Mazorodze Road. “I personally feel that Lloyd has done very well. All that he needs is support from everyone within the Dynamos family and they just need to be patient with him. I can say he is building a monster of a team. I’m happy for him because he is on the right track.”
Chitembwe has been playing the mind games a lot this season as he attempts to pile pressure on all opponents, but he will be aware that no matter what he says, this time the heat is on Makepekepe, who have destiny in their hands.
Winning their four remaining matches will deliver league glory, while any slip ups could be punished devastatingly by the chasing pair of Highlanders and FC Platinum.
Dynamos have nothing but pride – if the Class of 2016 has an iota of it left – to play for, and defeat to the bitter rivals will just but be a continuation of what has been normal service at the Glamour Boys this season.
DeMbare have lost back-to-back matches to Highlanders and FC Platinum this term, and Makepekepe are favourites to also complete a double over them, having won the reverse fixture 1-0.
Mutasa sounds like a man with nothing to really play for as the seasons reaches its climax, and he even appears to be thinking Caps will take the league.
“I want to salute Caps United, they have done well up to this stage. For me they are the most consistent team in the league hence they are on top of the log and it’s not by mistake that they are there. From the onset Lloyd showed his intent, he has worked to a standstill,” Mutasa told us as he took his team through a Thursday morning workout at Motor Action Sports Club.
So which team does he think will win the championship?
“I wouldn’t want to say who should win but I want the most consistent team to get it,” answered the DeMbare gaffer moments after saying Caps were the most consistent side.
When your most bitter opponents concede that you probably deserve glory, then you know tchips are falling perfectly for Chitembwe.
Rewind to the beginning of the season, a fortnight before his team’s first clash with DeMbare at Rufaro to be exact.
The Caps United mentor had plenty to say about their cross town rivals and it was far from pleasant.
Makepekepe had stitched together a descent run while DeMbare had a nightmarish start and were goalless, pointless and clueless after two league games under Paulo Jorge Silva.
Chitembwe said then: “We are happy because there are other teams that have even failed to score a goal and we have four points and four goals.”
A fortnight ago the Makepekepe gaffer took aim at FC Platinum, suggesting his team would have wrapped up the league title by now if they had deep pockets like “other teams”.
It is a statement that seems to have got under the skin of FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza.
Mind games are a key part of modern football. But after all the barbs and jabs, the battle is won and lost on the pitch.
And the Harare Derby once again promises to be a feisty affair.
Results
Mutare City 2-0 Border Strikers
FC Platinum 1-1 Ngezi Platinum Stars
Chicken Inn 2-0 ZPC Kariba
Tsholotsho FC 2-1 Chapungu
