The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda
Dynamos……………………………………………………2
ZPC Kariba…………………………………………………0
WHILE the blue half of Harare is rejoicing after Dynamos cruised into the Chibuku Super Cup quarterfinals, it is not so green at CAPS United who are hard-pressed to get a good result this afternoon.
And Makepekepe will have to do it away from home, as they play Herentals in a Group One fixture at Baobab in Mhondoro.
The match was moved away from the National Sports Stadium which will host the World Cup qualifier between Zimbabwe and Ghana next week.
Makepekepe will also have to do without their influential skipper Ronald Chitiyo, who was injured in Thursday’s 0-1 loss to Harare City.
Dynamos, who have been galvanised by the financial injection from Sakunda Holdings, powered to yet another victory yesterday.
The Glamour Boys beat ZPC Kariba 2-0 at the National Sports to move to 20 points.
Highly rated teenager, Bill Antonio and man of the match Juan Mutudza were on target for a Dynamos side that made changes to their starting line-up.
Goalkeeper George Chitusumba, Arnold Mawadza, Baranabus Mushunje, Ali Maliselo, Tinashe Makanda and Luke Musikiri started for DeMbare yesterday.
It’s a different scenario at CAPS United, whose 0-1 loss to Harare City midweek left them fourth on the log standings with six points, a massive 14 behind their city rivals Dynamos. The top two teams from the group qualify for the last eight.
Makepekepe are yet to win the Chibuku Super Cup since its inception in 2014, and it now looks more likely they will miss out on the 2021 edition.
It’s actually a tale of contrasting fortunes this afternoon as CAPS United coach Darlington Dodo is under pressure to conjure up a victory at Baobab, the home of Ngezi Platinum Stars, whose gaffer Rodwell Dhlakama has the luxury of tinkering with his squad against Whawha at Mandava.
Madamburo are already through to the quarterfinals where they are joined by fellow miners FC Platinum who played Triangle yesterday.
It’s not the case for Makepekepe who now need to win their three remaining matches to enhance their chances of making it into the last eight of the country’s premier knockout tournament. They come up against bottom placed Herentals, whose coach Kumbirai Mutiwekuziva has declared his intention to bow out of the tourney with some dignity.
The Students have three points from seven matches.
Dodo’s CAPS United fluffed a number of chances against Harare City on Thursday and the gaffer has promised to rectify the shortcomings.
“We lost to City, but we were just unfortunate. We had good chances but we failed to convert,” Dodo told this publication yesterday.
The gaffer declared that his team is going for a win at all costs.
“It’s a tricky game but we have to get the three points so that we keep up with the other teams who also want to qualify for the second round,” Dodo said.
“We had good moments against Harare City, good ball retention, had we converted it would have been a different story.
“Against Herentals we have to be ruthless.”
Valentine Musarurwa and Munyaradzi Kunyarimwe are still sidelined due to injury.
They have been joined on the treatment table by Joseph Thulani, Webster Tafa and Chitiyo.
