Dynamos,Harare City clash

Sport
IT IS still early in the season, but pressure has already mounted on two of Harare’s competitive sides Dynamos and Harare City who this afternoon clash in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League derby at the National Sports Stadium.

IT IS still early in the season, but pressure has already mounted on two of Harare’s competitive sides Dynamos and Harare City who this afternoon clash in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League derby at the National Sports Stadium.

MICHAEL MADYIRA Sports reporter

Harare reverberates today as DeMbare coach Kalisto Pasuwa seeks his first home win of the season while his opposite number Bigboy Mawiwi is battling to save his job with a first win of the term.

In the sides’ four league meetings since City’s debut season in 2012, Dynamos have won twice, City once while the fourth match ended in a draw.

But that might not count this afternoon with Dynamos appearing to curse at the National Sports Stadium where they have failed to beat AS Vita, ZPC Kariba and FC Platinum.

“That is an area we have been working on to start collecting points at home,” Pasuwa said.

“The National Sports Stadium is a ground we recommended to use all year and we should feel at home there.”

Pasuwa admitted pressure was mounting in his camp, but stated that it is not a unique problem to them.

“I think every team is under pressure,” he said.

“What counts now is the mental strength of a team, approach and attitude to tackle any game. Harare City are one of those opponents that have been tough for us and we should approach them in a positive manner.”

Another worry for Pasuwa is the failure by strikers to find the target which was glaringly exposed in last week’s 3-1 win over Bantu Rovers where it had to take defender Sydney Linyama, defensive linkman Devon Chafa and winger Cliff Sekete to score.

Missing Cliff Sekete, Tawanda Muparati, Masimba Mambare due to injuries, Pasuwa welcomes back menacing midfielder Ronald Chitiyo and Walter Mukanga.

But that is far from Mawiwi’s predicament.

While the Harare City coach is trying to banish the straight losses he has suffered so far, he has found himself with depleted arsenal in his war chest.

Star midfielder Nathan Ziwini is yet to fully recover from a groin injury and only started light training on Friday.

Goalkeeper Maxwell Nyamupanedengu has a nagging knee while left-back Munyaradzi Kunyarimwe is complaining about his ankle. Striker Martin Vengesai has developed a lump on his head.