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Tendai Samanja

Augustine Hwata Senior Sports Reporter
DREADLOCKED defensive midfielder Tendai Samanja has been one of the most consistent performers for Harare Premiership soccer giants CAPS United this season and he believes that they should cap their fine year by grabbing the Mbada Diamonds Cup.
CAPS United now have 45 points from 27 games and it’s one of their highest tally in a number of years as they aim for a top four finish at the end of the Castle Lager Premiership race.

The Green Machine still have a mathematical chance of lifting the league title if they win all their remaining three league games while there should be a monumental collapse by the leading pack of Dynamos, Harare City and Highlanders.

But it is in the Mbada Diamonds Cup where CAPS United still have the destiny in their hands as they face a cagey How Mine in the semi-final at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday.

Already, CAPS United have the psychological advantage after beating How Mine twice in their league meetings this season.
In the first clash in April at White City, CAPS United won 2-1 with goals from Hardlife Zvirekwi and Dominic Chunga, while Leonard Fiyado’s lone strike last month saw them completing a double over the Premiership newboys.

In winning the league match two weeks ago, CAPS United coach Taurai Mangwiro rested the majority of the players who had been commanding jerseys this season while giving those on the fringes a run.

How Mine could be making their maiden appearance in the Premiership this season, but the Chikurupati squad is made up of seasoned campaigners like Ephraim Mazarura, Gilbert Banda, Herbert Dick, Nyasha Mukumbi, Khumbulani Banda and Menard Mupera while the side also has the predatory Simba Sithole.

During the quarter-finals of the Mbada Diamonds Cup at Rufaro on October 13, How Mine made history when they became the first and only team to beat holders Dynamos and Samanja is wary that they could also burst the Green Machine’s bubble.

How Mine have also edged seasoned campaigners Highlanders and Dynamos in the league clashes.
No team had ever managed to get past Dynamos since the Mbada Diamonds Cup came into existence two years ago and DeMbare had been hoping to complete a hat-trick and take the trophy for keeps, but “sunk into the How Mine pit” in the quarter-finals.

“This is not going to be an easy game at all. We beat them in the league last month, but it’s now a new game.
“The game we played is past and this one on Sunday has not yet started.

“I think this time around, How Mine are more determined to win because they lost the last time, but that also means we have to work harder to get a positive result and I know that it will not be an easy match at all,” said Samanja.

CAPS United beat Motor Action in the first round at Sakubva before they sailed past Chicken Inn at Ascot, but now they will be under pressure from their fans to deliver against tricky opponents who are coming into the match as the underdogs while they (CAPS United) have an erstwhile tag of being the “Cup Kings”.

“It’s a cup match and cup games are usually tricky in that one team has to win and progress to the next round at the end of the day.
“Morale in our camp is high and everyone is ready to fight for a good result on Sunday,” said Samanja.

Last Sunday, CAPS United edged Buffaloes 1-0 in a league game at Sakubva and linkman Samanja was introduced in the 57th minute before Moses Muchenje struck the priceless penalty in the 67th minute.

And now Samanja prays that CAPS United will continue with their fine form.
“The game against Buffaloes was okay, but I can say it was also not an easy win. We had to fight hard to get a good result.
“I think we should continue to play as a team like in the last match and get a positive result against How Mine,” said Samanja.

CAPS United team manager Josephat Rwafa shared the same sentiments with Samanja and said that the Green Machine deserve a silverware for their efforts this season.

“Over the past few years, we failed to reach 42 points. Even when we had money we failed, but this season we do not have a decent cash flow, but the players are determined to play well and make names for themselves,” said Rwafa.

But How Mine coach Philani Ncube has warned CAPS United that winning in the league clashes twice this season will not translate to a victory over them in the Mbada Diamonds Cup semi-final on Sunday.

The other semi-final will see Harare City facing Highlanders at Mandava on Saturday.
Both Harare City and Highlanders are still in the running for the league championship, but one of them will drop their dreams of a double this season at the weekend.

Sponsors of the competition, Mbada Diamonds, have kept the match entry tickets at US$1 per head and will take care of the teams expenses in camping and playing kits.