The Sunday Mail
On The Ball
ALTHOUGH the local equivalent of Spain’s El Classico between Barcelona and Real Madrid is the “Battle of Zimbabwe”, featuring heavyweights, Dynamos and Highlanders, the Harare Derby always gets the country’s capital to a standstill.
Harare’s perennial rivals, DeMbare and Makepekepe, clash today at the National Sports Stadium, for the 73rd time in a league encounter since March 1977, when the then newly-promoted CAPS Rovers clashed with the Glamour Boys in an action-packed classic at Rufaro.
And on that day, at the end of it all, the blue army’s players – inspired by a genius nicknamed “The Mastermind” – edged CAPS Rovers, whose strip was an all-red attire, by 3 goals to 2.
“The Mastermind” – George Shaya – created all three of his side’s goals that were scored by the late duo of Daniel “Dhidhidhi” Ncube, who scored twice and Oliver “Monitoring Force” Kateya.
Rovers got their goals, courtesy of one goal from you-know-who – the late Shacky “Mr Goals” Tauro and Peter “Petso” Augustinho.
Dynamos also had on that day in their ranks ’keeper Matthew Mwale (late), Isaac “Nhema Musasa” Nhema, Simon “Baba Chare” Sachiti and the late duo of Shaw “Kojak” Handriade and Kuda “Kuda Boy” Muchemeyi.
Makepekepe, who later changed their name to Caps United and strip to the new famous green and white (in 1979), had exponents who included ’keeper Tito Alves, David “Bambo” Gwanzura (late), Charles Mtetwa, Salad Twaliki (late), Clever Tendaimambo, Elisha Gejo and John “Mupositori” Musveruki.
Many other talented players have come and gone after having donned both famous jerseys, but the rivalry has continued to blossom.
Before Caps United burst onto the scene after they had been promoted into the big time – led by a publicity-shy coach called Dominic Nyamimba at the end of the 1976 season – the capital’s quest for bragging rights was in the truncheon corners of Dynamos and Chibuku Shumba (later to be known as Black Aces).
But soon after the arrival of Makepekepe, a new kind of ambiguous dexterity fever has gripped the capital whenever the two giants clash.
Before I look at the chances of both sides in today’s whirlwind showdown, here are a few anecdotes that some of you might not have been aware of:
1. The first player to cross the “Great Divide” between the blue and green line was former Dynamos ’keeper, Matthew Mwale, who joined the then pharmaceutical side in 1978.
2. The first player to “go blue from green” was the late right wing back, Steve “Biko” Phiri, who joined Dynamos in 1979 after having joined CAPS upon his arrival from Malawi a year earlier.
3. Dynamos’ biggest triumph over their enemies was in the 1984 Chibuku Trophy semi-final at Rufaro, when a super-charged Moses “Razorman” Chunga led them to a 6-2 triumph.
The mercurial forward grabbed a brace, with another double coming from Max “Scara” Makanza; Edward “Madhobha” Katsvere scoring once and Kembo Chunga getting the last goal.
Midfield magician Stanford “Stix” Mtizwa scored both goals for Caps United in that match.
4. Caps United’s biggest triumph over their arch-rivals was a 7-0 thrashing they handed Dynamos in the 1987 Africa Day Trophy semi-final at Rufaro, with Tauro scoring four times; the late Never “Maswerasei” Chiku once; former Dynamos forward Gift “Ghetto” M’pariwa (late) scoring once and Anthony “Bryan Robson” also netting once.
5. On the eve of another crucial league encounter between the two rival sides at Rufaro in 1982, Mtizwa revealed that he had dreamt of riding a big motorcycle through the streets of his home area of Mbare, carrying his two team-mates – the late Stanley “Sinyo” Ndunduma and Tauro – as his passengers on that joy ride.
By the end of match day, Caps United had buried Dynamos 3-1 and guess who the victorious side’s scorers were?
They were Mtizwa, Ndunduma and Tauro!
6. In 1994, during the Africa Day Trophy final at Rufaro, Caps United took what looked like an unassailable 2-0 lead with only 15 minutes to go. Out of the blue, Dynamos struck four times to win the match 4-2! That shocking and disappointing defeat led the Caps United hierarchy to fire Ghanaian coach Ntibehene Bonsu, 48 hours later.
Phew, quite something, hey?
So, as Derby No. 73 beckons, who seems likely to be gesticulating and bellowing at the end of it all?
If we judge this encounter solely on current form, then “Makepekepe” should cross the finish line in “Usain Bolt fashion”!
Right wing back Hardlife “Nairobi” Zvirekwi (what a gem of a goal he scored against Chicken Inn last weekend!), Moses Muchenje and Dominic Chungwa are in dazzling form and will be expected to lead the onslaught in erasing the five-year league jinx.
But then again, like in every Dynamos-Highlanders tie, current form apparently seems to count for nothing and I’m sure Caps United mentor Taurai Mangwiro will have warned his charges against using their hot spell nowadays as the yardstick for success against their nemesis.
DeMbare returnee Rodrick Mutuma, who just loves to score against Makepekepe, has already stoked the flames ahead of this match, claiming that he will lead his side to victory yet again.
The self-styled “Prince” showed brilliant glimpses of his deftness inside the box during the 2-1 victory over Black Rhinos last week at the giant stadium where he got the opener for his side.
Without taking anything away from the current crop of players from both sides, they are a far cry from creating the adrenalin flow that was ignited by some of the following artistes who made the Harare Derby a dynamic carving of solid gold: Mtizwa, Ndunduma, Kainos Chindungwe, Duncan “Zico” Ellison, Joel “Jubilee” Shambo, Joe “Kode” Mugabe, Lloyd “Lodza” Chitembwe, Charles “Raw Meat” Sibanda, William “Weeds” Chikauro, Tobias “Stacatto” Moyo, Steven “BaMunyaradzi” Chisango, Gift “MacGyver” Mudangwe, Carlos “Murehwa” Max, Brenna “BaGari” Msiska, Albert “Dhalala” Mabika, Charlie “Kabhaskoro” Jones, Tobias “Rock Steady” Sibanda and Ashley “Compressor” Rambanapasi (CAPS); Shaya, Moses Chunga, Katsvere, David “Yogi” Mandigora, Sunday “Mhofu” and Misheck “Scania” Chidzambwa, Tauya “Flying Doctor” Murehwa, Japhet “Short Cat” Mparutsa, Eddie “Major Murefu” Muchongwe, Boniface “Keegan” Makuruzo, Henry “Beefy” Chari, Archieford “Chehuchi” Chimutanda, Hamid “Muzukuru” Dhana, Tonderai “TKZee” Mtambikwa, Desmond “Gazza” Maringwa, Tonderai “Stanza” Ndiraya, Simon Chuma, Murape “Monya” Murape and Sebastian “Ngonjo” Mutizirwa (Dynamos) and, of course, many more!
One thing is for sure yet again: All of Harare’s streets will be deserted between approximately 2.30pm to 5.15pm!
May the best team win!
Remember to take care of your loved ones and each other. It’s bye-bye for now.
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