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MISSING IN ACTION . . . CAPS United’s bustling forward Dominic Chungwa has been ruled out of Sunday’s Harare Derby after picking a third yellow card at Ascot when the champions battled to a goalless draw against Chapungu

Grace Chingoma Senior Sports Reporter
CHAMPIONS CAPS United have been dealt a heavy blow ahead of their blockbuster Harare Derby showdown against Dynamos at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday as they will be without bustling in-form forward Dominic Chungwa.

The forward, who has been scoring freely of late, has been ruled out of the big match through suspension. Chungwa picked up his third yellow card at Ascot in the first half of Saturday’s match against Chapungu, which ended goalless, for simulation.

The champions were back at the venue where they won the title last year after beating the airmen 1-0 through a goal by striker Simba Sithole who has since left the club for Tanzania.

Sithole’s priceless goal was the 1000th which CAPS United have scored in the era of the domestic Premiership and helped the Green Machine beat the relentless challenge of FC Platinum.

This time, though, the Harare giants could not score at Chapungu, where they have generally struggled, and a point picked there will be considered a good one by Lloyd Chitembwe and his men.

But it came at a cost. Chungwa’s first caution this season came in the second week of the Premiership match against Harare City, while his second came during Match Day Nine against Chicken Inn in Bulawayo.

Although the Premier Soccer League were yet to release the list of players who are on suspension this week, The Herald can exclusively reveal that Chungwa will miss the big game on Sunday.

This Harare Derby is one of the most highly-anticipated battles given that it comes when both giants are enjoying good form and Dynamos are in the running to replace their biggest city rivals as champions of domestic football.

The last meeting between the two iconic teams at the National Sports Stadium produced a six-goal thriller with CAPS United somehow fighting back from three goals down to level the match in a goal feast.

Sunday’s match will also mark the 40th annivessary of the Harare Derby whose first match was played in 1977. However, Chungwa will not be part of the show. According to PSL rules and regulations, a player who gets a third booking automatically misses the next game.

During the match against Chapungu, CAPS United defender Valentine Musarurwa was also booked in the second half while two other Chapungu players were also cautioned. But it is the absence of Chungwa, who has been in terrific form for Makepekepe, scoring five goals in four games, which is likely to be felt the most.

Interestingly, Chungwa scored the winner in the first encounter between the two giants at Rufaro last year in a 1-0 victory for Makepekepe. That priceless goal ensured CAPS United ended a lengthy fruitless search for a victory, in a league match, against their biggest rivals.

Now, Lloyd Chitembwe has to find a way of dealing without Chungwa. The forward has become his team’s chief forward with everything in attack revolving around him.

He has perfectly filled the void which was left by the attacking duo of Abbas Amidu, who impressed as a makeshift centre forward, and Leonard Tsipa who has since retired from the game.

Tsipa was the top goalscorer at Makepekepe last season. Chungwa is now in the race for the Golden Boot as he lies among the leaders after scoring eight league goals.

He is the third best league scorer and shares that position with Dynamos hotshot Christian Epoupa Ntouba, who scored three goals in the last two outings for DeMbare.

The duo is behind Ngezi Platinum striker Terrence Dzvukamanja, who is now the league’s second best scorer with nine goals, a goal shy of former Bantu Rovers forward Bukhosi Sibanda.

The young Bantu forward has since left for South Africa. And while Dynamos might have their star striker on the show on Sunday it is different case for their rivals.

Chitembwe, whose attacking challenges have, of late, been solved by the combination of Chungwa and newboy John Zhuwawo, will certainly miss the former on Sunday. But the champions can count on Zhuwawo who has quickly settled in the handful games he has featured so far.

Zhuwawo even scored a beautiful maiden goal at Rufaro when CAPS United hammered Ngezi Platinum 3-0 a week ago. A lot of interest has been created ahead of the first Harare Derby fixture this season as the two teams meet at a time they are both doing well.

CAPS United are on a six-match unbeaten run which started from the day they beat ZPC Kariba. Dynamos have also been enjoying a purple match and have strung five wins on the trot.

This makes Sunday’s match very special for the two teams which are still expected to play the outstanding fixture between them, from the first round, any time soon.

CAPS United have asked their fans to rise, on the 40th minute mark of every game they will play beginning with the Harare Derby, to celebrate the iconic showdown and also the Green Machine’s life in the top-flight league.

The fans are expected to rise and clap hands for a minute every time the clock hits the 40th minute mark.

Fixtures

Saturday: Yadah v Bantu Rovers (National Sports Stadium), Bulawayo City v ZPC Kariba (White City, 1pm), How Mine v Chicken Inn (White City, 3pm). Harare City v Tsholotsho (Rufaro, 1pm, SS), Black Rhinos v Triangle (Rufaro, 3pm, SS).

Sunday: CAPS United v Dynamos (NSS, 3pm, SS), Highlanders v Chapungu (White City), Hwange v FC Platinum (Colliery), Shabanie Mine v Ngezi Platinum (Maglas).