Mapuya backs DeMbare
FORMER Dynamos defensive lynchpin, Lovemore “Thula’’ Mapuya, believes the Glamour Boys’ Class of 2017 have the depth not only to win the Harare Derby on Sunday, but go all the way to clinch the Castle Lager Premiership title.
The retired star is now cutting his milk teeth in a budding coaching career in his hometown of Chipinge.
The country’s biggest and most successful football club have pushed themselves into contention for championship honours after a good run which has seen them win their last five league matches, including a six-goal thrashing of How Mine at Barbourfields last week.
They followed that up with a workmanlike show as they beat a battling Yadah Stars 2-0 at Rufaro with every member of the team putting in a good shift on a day their opponents got as much as they gave in a tough contest.
Captain Ocean Mushure, the club’s mainstay this year, scored another wonder goal to break the deadlock at Rufaro before impressive Cameroonian forward Christian Ntouba struck again, after muscling his way past the defence, for maximum points.
Now, DeMbare turn their sights on bitter Harare rivals CAPS United, who have also been playing well and are unbeaten in half-a-dozen matches, in one of the most eagerly-anticipated Harare Derbies in recent years.
The two giants clash at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday in a game expected to draw one of the biggest crowds, if not the biggest crowd, to watch a league match this season.
Mapuya, who used to be one of the stars at Dynamos during his playing days, believes that Lloyd Mutasa and his men are in the right frame of mind not only to win the Harare Derby on Sunday, but go on to become champions again.
DeMbare are involved in a tough race for the league title which also features plucky Chicken Inn, who are under the guidance of Rahman Gumbo, a coach who knows how to win league titles in Zimbabwe, Malawi and Botswana, Ngezi Platinum and FC Platinum.
Mapuya, who featured in 15 of Harare Derbies pitting Dynamos and CAPS United, 13 of which were won by the Glamour Boys, said he was putting his money on DeMbare to win Sunday’s big match.
“Always remember that Derby matches are not judged by a team’s performance in the league, but looking at Dynamos’ performance in recent weeks I think they are going to give us a good and exciting game,’’ said Mapuya.
“They, however, need the right approach mentally and I believe Lloyd Mutasa is equal to the task.
“So far, I consider Dynamos are the team of the moment. They are a team that everyone would want to watch in action.
“They are doing very well, good football, good combinations, good goals and everything is fine at DeMbare at the moment.’’
Mapuya played a total of 31 matches against CAPS United, 16 of them during his days at Motor Action, and he thinks his former team needs to play simple and basic football.
“With my experience with the Harare Derby match I have learnt that it is a match that needs a lot of basic football than overdoing things,’’ said Mapuya.
“Many players have failed to rise to the occasion during derby encounters not because they are bad, but they overdo things.
“So during my time, I enjoyed such matches and made sure we kept is simple and basic.’’
The former Gaza Primary and High School pupil tipped the Glamour Boys to win the league title this season.
“Like I said earlier, it is a team that is playing good football and they have a good psychological approach, so their chances are very high,’’ said Mapuya.
“The chances are high for Dynamos to not only win this Derby, but go all the way to clinch the 2017 Castle Lager Premiership title.
“CAPS United are coming up now. They are playing well and they have last year’s championship-winning experience on their side, but Dynamos are on song.
“Everyone in the Dynamos line-up is just untouchable. Any player in that team is capable of doing anything so that is the reason I am seeing CAPS going down.’’
Mapuya also heaped praises on Dynamos coach Mutasa, whom he referred to as one of the best coaches not only in the country or the region, but on the continent.
“Lloyd Mutasa is one of the best coaches in Africa, no doubt about that and this time around he is going to deliver his best because the players, technical department members and executive have understood his coaching tactics on-and-off the field,’’ said Mapuya.
The last time Mutasa took his men into the National Sports Stadium fortress, for a battle against Makepekepe, the Glamour Boys raced to a 3-0 lead, but CAPS United fought back to draw the game, scoring three times in the last five minutes of the match.
Defender Denis Dauda was the hero of that amazing fightback as he headed home twice, including the equaliser, for the Green Machine.
However, Dauda has since left Makepekepe and is now playing for Yadah Stars, the team that DeMbare beat in their last match in the league on Sunday.
Amazingly, CAPS United even had a golden chance to win that six-goal thriller last year, with Ronald Pfumbidzai missing a glorious opportunity with a header with the last touch of the match.