The Sunday Mail
CHAPUNGU coach John Nyikadzino has backed Dynamos to defend their Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title ahead of the two teams’ clash at Rufaro this afternoon.
The Gweru based airmen are hanging perilously at the wrong end of the standings with 32 points but a strong finish in the marathon can see them avoiding the chop.
However, as they bid to avoid the dreaded chop, Chapungu say if they could have it their way, they would not have wanted to meet their title chasing hosts at this stage of the competition.
“Dynamos are in the race for the league and experience from the past three seasons has shown us that this is the stage at which they are uncompromising.
“If I could have it my way this is one match I would have loved to have played earlier in the season, not at this stage.
“Looking at the standings and the number of games left, I don’t see any team wrestling the title from Dynamos.
“However, our match against them has nothing to do with all that history, it’s a match which is going to be won by whoever will come to the party on match day (today),” said Nyikadzino.
Dynamos will be their biggest enemies if they are to read much into Nyikadzino’s flattery talk as this is the same side that stunned them 0-1 in the reverser fixture.
Talent Mwale scored the winner at Ascot.
Chapungu’s giant killing exploits are well documented and so is their poor away record.
The airmen won just once — away to Black Rhinos — on the road and have only three goals to show for all their travels.
Worryingly for them, they have not scored in Harare in their last three visits.
However, despite their poor record, the airmen have enough artillery to cause an upset at Rufaro.
Skilful winger, Farai Manase, is expected to lead their quest despite training just once the whole of last week as he was defending his dissertation for an honours degree with the Midlands State University.
Brothers Charles and Ngoni Murisa will pit their wit against a Dynamos midfield that is likely to be anchored by Stephen Alimenda and will also feature Tafadzwa Rusike and Ronald Chitiyo.
DeMbare will welcome back first choice goalie Artwell Mukandi but will be without a number of their stars notably Masimba Mambare, who cannot play on the worn out artificial turf at Rufaro, as well as the injured pair of Devon Chafa and Anesu Gondo.
The host’s coach, Kallisto Pasuwa, is worried that they will have to play their five remaining matches at Rufaro.
“Playing at Rufaro comes with challenges to our players due to the hard surface there. We have a number of players who cannot play two consecutive matches there and some who cannot play at all like Mambare, but all the same we will have to adjust.
“Chapungu beat us in the reverse fixture so we have so much respect for them and we need to be positive in our attitude,” said Pasuwa.
The DeMbare gaffer refused to be drawn into championship talk arguing that it is “way too early” to do so.
Fixtures:
Buffaloes v Harare City (Sakubva), Triangle v Caps United (Gibbo), Dynamos v Chapungu (Rufaro), Highlanders v Chicken Inn (Hartsfield)
