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Masimba Mambare

Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
DYNAMOS midfielder Masimba Mambare says the Premiership giants are up for it in this year’s league race but the defending champions face a huge test of character when they host neighbours Harare City at Rufaro tomorrow.

The Glamour Boys are looking to regain lost ground in the remaining six matches of the season after they dropped into third place on the log standings and are four points behind leaders Chicken Inn.

But while their eyes are fixed on collecting maximum points against Harare City, the Harare giants will also be following with interest what will be happening today at Mandava where second-placed FC Platinum take on lowly Whawha.

Chicken Inn clash with How Mine in a Bulawayo derby.

DeMbare’s back-to-back wins over Whawha and Chicken Inn in their last two assignments gave them the momentum they needed at this stage of the campaign and their camp is now confident they can win a fifth straight league title.

“I believe we have a tricky game in our hands because Harare City are a team on song. Just look at their recent performances in both the league games and the Chibuku Super Cup and you will realise what sort of opponents they are,” said Mambare.

“They have been playing some good football but the good thing with us is that we have also been doing well.

“We talk about it and everyone in our team knows what needs to be done.

“We are very keen to defend the league title and we know Harare City are one of those obstacles we need to overcome. At this point we do not want to be seen to be dropping points.

“We don’t want to focus on what other teams are doing but everyone knows what it means if we lose a match this weekend and either Chicken Inn or FC Platinum wins.”

The Glamour Boys are currently sitting third with 45 points.

Chicken Inn lead the marathon with 49 points while FC Platinum are enjoying the benefits of superior goal difference in second spot, although tied on points with Dynamos.

Mambare said they are looking to do it for their supporters who have rallied behind the team despite the many challenges they have faced this season.

DeMbare will be without their midfield kingpin — Stephen Alimenda —who is serving suspension after accumulating three yellow cards.

There is still no good news in the casualty ward as skipper Augustine Mbara, goalkeeper Artwell Mukandi and youthful fullback Kudzanayi Nyakasaka are still out nursing injuries.

Worse, they have been joined on the sidelines by Obey Mwerahari who is also not available for selection this weekend.

But the bulk of the players who have been doing duty, who include the likes of Ronald Chitiyo, Sydney Linyama, Godknows Murwira, Elisha Muroiwa and the strike duo of Takesure Chinyama and Rodreck Mutuma, are all geared up for the match.

The situation is almost the same with their opponents who are expected to miss some of their key players like David Kutyauripo and Talent Chawapihwa through injuries.

Kutyauripo and fellow former teammate at Dynamos Timire Mamvura have been battling injuries.

The pair only resumed training this week and their coach Taurai Mangwiro might not be forced to risk them in this match.

Instead, Harare City, who were one of the busy teams during the off-season window, have good depth.

They got a huge boost with the recovery of their big striker Francesco Zekumbawira who scored a brace in last week’s Chibuku Super Cup 4-1 semi-final demolition of ZPC Kariba.

The Sunshine Boys have managed only one win in their seven meetings with Dynamos since they were promoted in 2012.

Midfielder Nathan Ziwini, a former DeMbare player, said there was nothing special about the Glamour Boys.

“All the games are just the same, that is why we have 16 teams in the league. Dynamos are only big in name but the fact that we are playing eleven versus eleven makes both teams equal.

“It’s good that everyone has confidence that we can do it. So we are up for it. We just need to bury the chances that we get,” said Ziwini.