DYNAMOS FC midfielder Masimba Mambare will not feature in Sunday’s Harare derby against Caps United after picking an injury at a training session this week.
HENRY MHARA SPORTS REPORTER
The two rivals will clash at Rufaro Stadium in the ZNA Charity Shield semi-final match, the third time they are meeting in a space of just four weeks.
The second semi-final match will see Highlanders and How Mine clashing at Barbourfields Stadium. The tournament’s defending champions FC Platinum will not participate.
Dynamos and Caps United met in the Sino-Zim Challenge Cup final three weeks ago, a game which went Caps’ way before Dynamos revenged on the Green Machine in the poorly-organised Bob 91 Super Cup last week.
They will again cross swords this weekend, in what should be their final pre-season workout.
However, Dynamos will go into the match without winger Mambare who picked an injury at the team’s training session on Tuesday.
Team manager Richard Chihoro yesterday said Mambare landed awkwardly during the team’s first training session since beating Caps United last weekend.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Mambare sat out the team’s training session at a local school yesterday. Farai Mupasiri is doubtful for the match because of a stomach problem. The striker trained separately from the group.
Democratic Republic of Congo import Fabrice Mbimba, who is increasingly falling out of favour with the new technical team led by David Mandigora, did not train.
“Masimba has an ankle problem. He twisted his ankle after landing akwardly on an uneven surface during a training session. He is out of the match,” Chihoro said.
“Mupasiri has a stomach problem and will be assessed by the doctor,” Chihoro who refused to give reasons why Mbimba was not training with the rest of the squad, added.
Mambare, signed from Highlanders last year, saw very little action in the subsequent season owing to a knee injury he picked in a pre-season friendly match but had appeared to have fully recovered after featuring in the first Harare derby this year.
Caps United will miss one key player in defender Justice Jangano who is in China with Northern Region Division One side Gunners.
With the two pre-season clashes between the two Harare giants delicately balanced, the match would probably be seen as a decider of some sort on who really rule the capital.
Caps United won this fixture last season, and would be looking to make it a double over their rivals while Dynamos would no doubt be motivated by revenge.
Winners of the final are set to pocket $12 000 with the runners-up walking away with $8 000.
Third and fourth placed sides will share $5 000.
Organisers of the tournament have pegged $3 for the rest of ground ticket.
Proceeds from the match would go towards charity, which include Tsanga Lodge Convalescent Centre in the Eastern Highlands, Army Widows Orphans Benevolent Fund and the ZNA Benevolent Fund.
Last season, FC Platinum won the ZNA Charity Shield after defeating Caps United 6-0 at Mandava Stadium.
