The Sunday Mail
WHEN Zamalek play Al Ahly in the Cairo derby a foreign referee is flown in to take charge of proceedings as this match is deemed bigger than both life and death.
At best it’s an explosive affair, at worst dangerously beautiful game.
In India, a country where cricket is worshipped, the Kolkata derby between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan always brings life to a standstill.
Fans of the losing team are said to go for days without eating while the victorious army feasts on prawns.
In Bolivia they have the Clasico Paceno which pits the club of intellectuals Club Bolivar against a club founded by mercenary soldiers The Strongest in the city of La Paz.
It’s a massive game.
In Italy AC Milan and Inter Milan share the same stadium, the iconic San Siro, but there is no neigbourliness when they clash in the Derby della Madonnina.
It is called Derby della Madonnina in honour of one of the absorbing sights in Milan, the statue of the Virgin Mary (mother_of_Jesus) and its first battle was witnessed on 18 October 1908.
In Turkey there is no love lost between Galatasaray and Fenerbahce; tempers always flare both on and off the pitch whenever the two foes come to battle in the Istanbul derby.
In these shores we have the Harare derby, a battle that pits a club that claims to have a mythical and never changing seven million fans against an outfit that claims everything classy.
Never mind talk by yesteryear greats that the derby has lost its glitter and that the players of today are just ordinary blokes – this clash is big and will always be.
Today, for the 76th time in their illustrious histories, DeMbare and Makepekepe cross swords with the team in blue off the boil and the one wearing green full of life.
It’s at Rufaro, 3pm is kick off and the cheapest ticket has been hiked to $5 by a Dynamos executive that seems to be living in a cocoon.
Cash is at premium, schools are opening Tuesday, the game is live on Superport and there is also the counter attraction that is Leicester City visiting Old Trafford with the smell of the Barclays English Premier Soccer League title going through their nostrils.
Back to the park, Dynamos have had horrible start to the season that has seen their technical team being slapped with a three match ultimatum.
Life under that yoke began with a 2-1 win away to Mutare City, DeMbare’s first win and goals of the season following a 0-3 defeat to Chicken Inn and a goalless draw at home to Triangle.
From the other corner, the green corner, comes a Caps United outfit that is high on confidence after an impressive start that has their vegetable waving faithful daring to dream again.
A return of seven points from a possible nine and a dressing room full of players who claim they would rather die than lose to Dynamos has club owner Farai Jere convinced that the Class of 2016 will “redeem us from the DeMbare curse.”
It’s been seven years since Caps United last beat Dynamos and the Green Machine are hurting.
They believe now is the time.
Caps are hitting the strides while Dynamos are staggering.
However, anyone who believes form counts for anything in the Harare derby needs help, urgently.
It’s all about who wants it more on the day!
Makepekepe have been making the right noises with their coach Lloyd Chitembwe taking a not subtle dig at DeMbare’s shocking start to the season last weekend.
The tone continued into the week with defender Hardlife Zvirekwi declaring the time has come for Makepekepe to halt their seven year winless run against Dynamos.
“Records are meant to be broken,” he said.
“It’s high time we restore the pride of Caps United and start winning against Dynamos.”
Away from the limelight Makepekepe put in the yards at the training ground.
Chitembwe called on the expertise of long time friend Kennedy Nagoli.
Nagoli, who spent a season at Brazilian glamour side Santos after being recommended by the legend called Pele, is a man Chitembwe trusts with his own life.
He is also a master at organising the midfield.
“He (Nagoli) has always been there for me, he is my good friend.
“He has always been coming to the training sessions as and when I feel I
need his expertise, nothing more nothing less” said Chitembwe.
At Dynamos Paulo Jorge Silva increasingly feels he is winning the DeMbare players over after a nightmarish start that saw him accusing everyone but himself and the chief marshal of sabotage.
However, the Portuguese coach knows that defeat today could be the stamp that his dismissal letter is waiting for.
Silva insisted he has been working normally and is unaware of any ultimatum.
“Everything is normal, I don’t know about any ultimatum. We want to win this game and we are working hard to win it,” he said Friday.
“This game is big because of two reasons, one we want the three points and two I want to deliver the win to the supporters.
“These days I am not driving and everywhere I walk with coach Lloyd (Mutasa) the fans come up to me and say ‘coach win this game for us please’.
“Believe me I know how important it is for them to beat Caps United and will make sure that they go home smiling, go home with respect and not shame.”
Fixtures
Dynamos v Caps United (Rufaro), Byo City v Highlanders (Barbourfields), Border Strikers v Mutare City (Maglas).
