Harare Derby: Who will be the kings?

Clash of the titans – Dynamos vs Caps United.

FOOTBALL is adored world – wide because it goes beyond the magnitude of just a sporting event. Behind that sheer spectacle are wider historical implications that make certain matches, teams and players revered above any. Such tangible element give rise to rivalries whose significance infuse that of a regular season fixture and its very outcome defines the game as a whole for many die hard supporters around the globe.

Of course the subject at hand is the Harare Derby, that features champions Dynamos and Caps United at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday – a time when Harare gets divided into two -blue and green. As such there are few contests in the country that carry quite the same passion as when these two teams clash.

Every time Dynamos and Caps United clash, football is usually a subset of community bragging rights and on occasion a matter of life and death that has led to fatalities, injuries and hooliganism in the stands and outside the stadium. Their meeting often mesmerize millions of fans, not only locally but across the footballing world, especially the Zimbabweans living in the Diaspora.

Not even a new player ever needs to be told the importance of the Harare Derby as most would admit that even before joining either of the Big Two, they already followed the match with keen interest. Their own derby debut is an event they always await with eager, nervous, anticipation, and it’s a match they will never forget because the whole city comes to a standstill.

Both sides go into Sunday’s match high on confidence after a good run in their last few games. Dembare captain, Murape Murape, who has played in more Harare Derby matches than any other player from both teams, declared his team favourites although he expects a Green Machine onslaught on Sunday.

“We (Dynamos) are favourites as usual,” said Murape emphatically.

“We now know how nice it feels to beat Caps (United) and we want to do it and see our fans happy again. But one thing for sure is that they will be coming for revenge after they struggled to beat us since 2009 (in league games). The feeling of beating Caps United is something so awesome that words cannot describe. It’s the kind of feeling that keeps you going in the games that come after because your confidence is right where it should.”

Tapiwa Khumbuyani, the Green Machine captain was still bitter about the defeats but optimistic they can bounce back with a win over their arch-rivals. “We (Caps United) are working hard to get the win this time around and with the way we are playing, we will claw Dynamos come rain or shine in the derby. I don’t care how we beat them, but we just have to make sure that they are the losers at the end of 90 minutes. We can’t lose again because it is bad, very bad. Besides, when you have won the Harare Derby, you will walk like a king,” said Khumbuyani.

Caps United are yearning for revenge after failing to beat Dynamos in league games for the past four years. The Green Machine have not won the league championship, since Charles Mhlauri sealed back –to- back titles in 2004/5 seasons, and have lived in the shadows of their eternal rivals Dynamos who have won four league titles since 2007.

Dynamos and Caps United are enjoying a good run of form and are currently placed second and third respectively on the log standings behind with 26 points each from 14 games played and are separated by goal difference. Highlanders lead the standings with 27 points from the same number of games.

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