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Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
CAPS United players will not have a rest this week as they cherish a double date during the Easter period which culminates in the first leg of the Harare Derby against bitter rivals Dynamos next Monday.

The Green Machine beat FC Platinum 1-0 on Sunday to maintain a perfect start to the season after two games.

But a congested programme over the Easter weekend has meant that the Green Machine players will not have time to waste and yesterday their coach Mark Harrison called for an afternoon workout.

CAPS United will travel to Bulawayo for a date against Luke Masomere’s star-studded How Mine at Luveve on Thursday and then engage old rivals Dynamos in the first of the season’s blockbuster clashes at the National Sports Stadium four days later.

“We are playing How Mine on a Thursday away down in Bulawayo and then on Monday we have got a massive game here,” said Harrison.

“So you know it’s going to be hard. We have to regenerate now. There is no rest for the players between now and the Dynamos game and we will be training every day. Not saying we are killing them but we are regenerating them, we are trying to focus on to the next game and then straight after that one to the next game. Then let’s see where we land after Monday, let’s see where we will be sitting then.”

Dynamos, who have registered wins over Buffaloes and Chapungu in their opening matches, will warm up to the Derby with a home tie against Dongo Sawmill at Rufaro this Friday.

“Both those guys (Mahori and Machisi) are 20-year-olds and they have a fantastic future ahead of them. Obviously, they got to learn and it’s frustrating sometimes.

“They are learning and if they got to learn they have to learn quickly but, at least, we have guys who can come off the bench and change it. They are not always going to start, that’s for sure. You cannot expect the players to play 30-35 games of the season, it doesn’t work like that but, obviously, it’s great for the future of the club to have two 20-year olds in the right areas,” said Harrison.

Dynamos assistant coach Tonderai Ndiraya said the Glamour Boys have a good depth and are not anticipating problems fulfilling their Easter fixtures.

DeMbare have an exciting mix in their squad after roping in the likes of Qadr Amini, Godknows Murwira, Kenneth Bulaji and Dominic Chungwa during the off-season when they lost a number of key players.

The return of talented midfielder Ronald Chitiyo has also boosted their team.

Chitiyo scored the solitary goal that ensured maximum points at Chapungu at the weekend. The Glamour Boys are aiming to notch up a fifth straight league title following the arrival of David Mandigora and Ndiraya to replace history-making coach Callisto Pasuwa.

DeMbare yesterday welcomed their captain, Augustine Mbara, who was on trials at Bidvest Wits. In his absence, Elisha Muroiwa partnered Sydney Linyama in the match against Chapungu where the former Twalumba man acquitted himself well.

The previous week Dynamos opened their account without three of their players – Tatenda Mukuruva, Blessing Moyo and Carlos Rusere — who were in the national Under-23 team camp.

“The rules normally say when you have three players on national team assignment the game will be postponed but we had the luxury of playing without the three players.

“But when they came back the same team that played against Buffaloes is the same team that played at Chapungu so there wasn’t really much difference.

“But they are very important members of the team, they have to fight for their jerseys. Elisha played well and he showed us that there is someone who can fight for Augustine’s place,” said Ndiraya.