FACING Dynamos — especially in their cauldron — on the second game of the season is something that would make small teams wet in their pants, but not ZPC Kariba in today’s Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at the National Sports Stadium.
ALBERT MARUFU sports reporter
Fresh from notching a point in a 1-1 draw against another giant Caps United in the season opener last weekend, Gwenya reChamhembe are ready for the champions.
Many will remember the fate of Hardbody FC two seasons ago, who opened up the term with a tie against Dynamos before facing Highlanders in their third game in the 2012 season.
Through stage fright or something, Hardbody lost both matches and with those losses, their confidence disappeared leading to their failure in top-flight football.
However, ZPC Kariba coach Soul Chaminuka, who watched in agony as Dominic Chungwa cancelled Pride Tafirenyika’s strike in their season opener against Caps United last weekend, is confident of causing an upset.
“We are ready for Dynamos and we will give them a good run for their money. We respect them because they have achieved a lot in the past, but we promise them a tough game. We are also a PSL team, so that makes us equals,” Chaminuka said soon after the club’s last session yesterday.
Chaminuka’s confidence could be stemming from the array of experienced players in his side.
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Besides Tafirenyika, who has experience of matches against Dynamos from his days at Shooting Stars and later Caps United, Chaminuka also has veterans such as Limited Chikafa, Caleb Masocha, David Rediyoni and Tawanda Munyanduri, among a host of others.
Dynamos team manager Richard Chihoro whose side has been hit by a spate of injuries said they respect ZPC Kariba because they are no longer a Division One side.
The champions, who scrapped to a 1-0 victory over How Mine, go into the match without Walter Mukanga, Tawanda Muparati, Ocean Mushure, and Clive Kawinga, but welcome back veteran Murape Murape.
“ZPC Kariba is no longer a Division One team. Moreover they have a number of players who have PSL experience. Games such as this one need a lot of plotting because they are tricky,” he said.
“Despite the injuries, we still have enough players who can fill in the gap. Remember we registered over 30 players.”
Today’s matches Highlanders v Shabanie (Barbourfields), Triangle v Chiredzi FC (Gibbo), Dynamos v ZPC Kariba (NSS), Black Rhinos v Chapungu (Rimuka), Buffaloes v Chicken Inn (Sakubva).
