The Sunday Mail
Losing to Highlanders is unacceptable at Dynamos, the star of last Sunday’s Battle of Zimbabwe showdown, Murape Murape, has said.
Murape silenced his critics and re-emphasised his status as the real embodiment of the DeMbare “never-say-die” spirit during his team’s 1-0 triumph.
He stuck to Bosso danger man Kuda Mahachi like glue on leather and initiated some clever moves down the right channel as DeMbare powered to a crucial victory which Murape believes has set them on course for a record equalling fourth consecutive league title.
“Playing against Bosso has so much significance at DeMbare and losing against them is just unacceptable,” he said.
“It has always been like that at this club and that doctrine has sunk into the current group of players as evidenced by the way some of the youngsters like Bhule (Blessing Moyo) were so psyched up before the match.
“We are Dynamos and the players know how it feels to lose against either Highlanders or Caps United.
“Everyone pushes extra hard, some force their way even if they are carrying injuries . . . such is the importance we attach to these games.
“Others can only admire the determination, zeal and strong sense of togetherness that has carried us through at DeMbare. With this collective determination Highlanders will continue to struggle against us.”
Having debuted for Dynamos as a teenager back in 1997, no player in the current set-up has better motivational DeMbare tales to tell than Murape.
It’s a role he religiously plays in the team bus on the way to pressure cooker encounters.
“Matches against Highlanders and Caps United are high pressure games and sometimes you can actually sense that some of the less experienced players are uneasy. I usually re-live DeMbare’s special moments of the past on the eve of these big encounters as a way of motivating the boys.
“I have lots of heroic stories to tell about DeMbare greats whom I mingled with as a junior like Memory Mucherahowa, Chamu Musanhu and even our coach Kallisto Pasuwa.
“I always tell the youngsters one needs a strong mentality to play for DeMbare especially when it’s against Bosso or Makepekepe and that these games are for players and not coaches.
“The coach can do his homework during the week but come match day the players’ mentality becomes more important and at Dynamos that mental strength is usually there when we face our arch rivals.”
Murape said he owes Sunday’s inspired performance to his wife Amanda.
“Mai Matwins knows I love scones and cookies, so she packed my lunchbox with lots of them when I left home for camp.
“She also called just before kick-off reminding me of the importance of the game and the need for me to control my emotions,” said Murape.
