CAPS vs Dynamos, Harare derby marks 40th anniversary
Sunday’s match between Dynamos FC and CAPS United will mark the 40th annivessary of the Harare Derby, whose first match was played in 1977.
However, bustling in-form forward, Dominic Chungwa will not be part of the show.
According to PSL rules and regulations, a player who gets a third booking, automatically misses the next game.
The forward, who has been scoring freely of late, has been ruled out of the big match through suspension. Chungwa picked up his third yellow card at Ascot in the first half of Saturday’s match against Chapungu, which ended goalless, for simulation.
This year’s Harare Derby is one of the most highly-anticipated battles given that it comes when both giants are enjoying good form and Dynamos are in the running to replace their biggest city rivals as champions of domestic football.
CAPS United are on a six-match unbeaten run which started from the day they beat ZPC Kariba. Dynamos have also been enjoying a purple match and have strung five wins on the trot.
The last meeting between the two iconic teams at the National Sports Stadium produced a six-goal thriller with CAPS United somehow fighting back from three goals down to level the match in a goal feast.
Although the Premier Soccer League were yet to release the list of players who are on suspension this week, The Herald can exclusively reveal that Chungwa will miss the big game on Sunday.
During the match against Chapungu, CAPS United defender Valentine Musarurwa was also booked in the second half while two other Chapungu players were also cautioned. But it is the absence of Chungwa, who has been in terrific form for Makepekepe, scoring five goals in four games, which is likely to be felt the most.
Interestingly, Chungwa scored the winner in the first encounter between the two giants at Rufaro last year in a 1-0 victory for Makepekepe. That priceless goal ensured CAPS United ended a decade of fruitless search for a victory, in a league match, against their biggest rivals.
Chitembwe, whose attacking challenges have, of late, been solved by the combination of Chungwa and newboy John Zhuwawo, will certainly miss the former on Sunday. But the champions can count on Zhuwawo who has quickly settled in the handful games he has featured so far.
This makes Sunday’s match very special for the two teams which are still expected to play the outstanding fixture between them, from the first round, any time soon.
CAPS United have asked their fans to rise, on the 40th minute mark of every game they will play beginning with the Harare Derby, to celebrate the iconic showdown and also the Green Machine’s life in the top-flight league.
The fans are expected to rise and clap hands for a minute every time the clock hits the 40th minute mark.
Fixtures
Saturday: Yadah v Bantu Rovers (National Sports Stadium), Bulawayo City v ZPC Kariba (White City, 1pm), How Mine v Chicken Inn (White City, 3pm). Harare City v Tsholotsho (Rufaro, 1pm, SS), Black Rhinos v Triangle (Rufaro, 3pm, SS).
Sunday: CAPS United v Dynamos (NSS, 3pm, SS), Highlanders v Chapungu (White City), Hwange v FC Platinum (Colliery), Shabanie Mine v Ngezi Platinum (Maglas).
BY Grace Chingoma
