Caps United clash with Dynamos in a Harare derby with the ‘Green Machine’ already flying high following a string of good performances in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.
This is a game that has all the hallmarks of a thriller as the two teams have different backgrounds going into the game.
Caps are top of the Castle Lager Premiership table, two points above second-placed FC Platinum while Dynamos have been struggling and are way off the title challengers in fifth place.
Caps United need a win over Dembare not only to maintain their top of the table position but also to move closer to the league title.
Another win over Dembare will also cement their dominance over a team that had turned them into a punch bag over the past few years.
Although they will be missing top scorer Leonard Tsipa and Philemon Bamusi, coach Lloyd Chitembwe says the Green Machine are ready to conquer. “Every game we play, we want to win. But there is no game we want to win more than this one. My boys are ready,” said Chitembwe.
For Dynamos, they cannot afford to do Caps United any favours.
Dembare have been going through a period of decline and the team’s horde of impatient fans have been calling for the club leadership to step down and the coach to call it a day.
Coach Llyod Mutasa knows that a win against the Green Machine will make his job a bit safe and will also save him from the booing that he has been subjected to in the past few weeks.
“We are treating this game as any other league match. We are hoping for a good result and that is the reason why we have been preparing hard,” said Mutasa.
There are other teams that will be watching proceedings at Barbourfields Stadium with wide eyes - FC Platinum who trail Caps United by two points and Highlanders who are three points adrift of
the Green Machine.
However, first they also have unfinished business as Bosso on Sunday play host to tricky neighbours Bulawayo City while FC Platinum receive Ngezi Platinum Stars at Mandava Stadium, a day earlier.
Other games over the weekend are as follows…
Tsholotsho Pirates vs Chapungu
Hwange vs Harare City
Triangle vs How Mine
Chicken Inn vs ZPC Kariba.
Mutare City Rovers vs Border Strikers.
Border Strikers will be relegated should they lose to Mutare City Rovers
At the same time, after more than a decade, boxing returns to Zimbabwe on Friday when Zimbabwe’s World Boxing Council silver belt title holder Charles Mayuchi fights Colombia’s Jose Augustin Feria in a welterweight non-title bout Friday night over eight rounds.
This is the first time in his career that Manyuchi will be fighting in Zimbabwe and the first time that Zimbabwe has hosted a boxing tournament in the past 10 years.
Both Manyuchi, who is ranked 19th in the world and fourth in the WBC and Feria who is ranked 470th in the world, have promised boxing of the highest order and those who will part with their $5 are guaranteed of their money’s worth.
The cheapest seat is going for $5 with the highest charge being $50.
At the same time, Manyuchi has given the chance to some upcoming Zimbabweans to fight on the undercard. Anyway Katonga is billed to take on Alfred Mawoyo of Zambia with Tinashe Madziwane also taking on another Zambain Gibon Kamota.
The main supporting bout is a World Boxing Council welterweight title fight between Zambia’s Lolita Muzeya of Zambia and Agnes Mutimakunena of Malalwi.