Blast from the past; Sunday Times LIVE The Harare derby’s last stand Football fans rivalry keep CAPS United fixture against Dynamos exciting July 22, 2011 TAWANDA KAROMBO There were no blaring horns and Vuvuzelas in the streets of Harare suburbs and locations this week and the usual rivalry talk among football fans ahead of this afternoon’s Harare derby encounter between Dynamos and CAPS United at the National Sports Stadium (NSS) was a bit subdued. The only exception to this were two big size Dynamos and CAPS United flags flying high at a taxi rank in central Harare. The usual controversial and slurs by coaches seeking to play mind games on each other has also been notably absent ahead of this once explosive clash. Yet the great and bitter rivalry between Dynamos and CAPS United fans is the only interesting and valuable positive keeping the once exciting Harare derby fixture exciting as the two top sides continue to struggle in fixtures against each other. CAPS United coach Takaendesa Jongwe this week urged the fans to come out in their numbers to watch their team play Dynamos: “The fans should come out in their numbers and enjoy this match. They have always been exciting and we will try to fight for a good result to please them,” he said during the week. He knows the value of fans, especially when playing against some of the league’s high profile teams such as Dynamos and Highlanders. “The coaches and the players were under too much pressure but we did put in all our efforts. It’s just that football is now changing and there are now also other teams playing well while some of the players are leaving for other clubs both here and in South Africa. This leaves the teams with new players each and every time,” said a senior Dynamos player, Murape Murape. It is sad to note that while the fans have been outstanding, coming in their numbers and backing their teams even against the odds, the players have been failing to deliver exciting and open football on the field. Others have said that this is mainly because of the of the fact that the majority of the current Dynamos and CAPS United players have been brought in or loaned from other premiership sides. The argument is that these players lack a sound understanding of the roots and culture of these two teams and being professionals, will never be emotionally affected after losing to the “ultimate league enemy”. From the onset of the first encounter played a month ago, it was clear that both coaches were under pressure, and that their strategy of congesting their respective teams’ midfield departments would only choke the players creativity and freedom to go forward in search of goals. In fact, the match could have been on the terraces of the giant NSS than on the field of play. It dawned on me, having decided to watch this presumably fierce encounter from the Vietnam Stands, which houses die hard Dynamos fans that the fans are and will continue to be the derby fixture’s last stand.
Posted on: Wed, 20 Nov 2013 15:18:37 +0000
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