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Sports Reporter

Chapungu strikers Allan Tavarwisa and Tinei Chitora are bracing for the tough challenge they face against their former team Dynamos when they clash in the Chibuku Super Cup semi-final at Mandava on Sunday.

The duo once had a stint at DeMbare with Chitora arriving at the club at the start of the 2012 season, with a lot of promise, as he was expected to fill in the boots of former forward Cuthbert Malajila, who had just left for South Africa.

However, the former Blue Ribbon forward barely lasted a season as he was reported to have gone AWOL before later leaving the club.

Tavarwisa, joined the Glamour Boys in 2013 but, halfway through the season, he left the club in a huff to join Monomotapa over some unsettled transfer money.

But yesterday, the players said they want to prove they have come of age when they meet Dynamos.

Two more Chapungu strikers, Patrick Khumbula and Phillip Marufu, have also previously featured for DeMbare.

Chitora said they carry an underdog tag going into the match and they have no pressure approaching this crucial match. “I am enjoying my game at Chapungu and have forgotten about the time I was at Dynamos. I have moved on and I don’t have any hard feelings.

“I just want to do well for my team and we would want to reach the final but we can only talk about that after Sunday,” he said.

The striker has scored two goals in the Chibuku Super Cup tournament and is among the other three strikers who have scored as many goals.

ZPC Kariba midfielder Raphael Manuvire, Tsholotsho’s Lynoth Chikuhwa and Chicken Inn forward Mitchell Katsvairo are the other players who have scored two goals.

Harare City midfielder William Manondo is the tournament’s leading goal scorer with four goals.

Unfortunately, the Chibuku Super Cup doesn’t have prize money for the player who would have scored the highest number of goals.

In the league, Chitora is also the third leading goalscorer having scored eight goals while his teammate is behind him with seven goals.

Yesterday, Tavarwisa spoke highly of the combination they have struck at the airmen.

“When we are playing I know how to position myself or where to look for Tinei and we really click. We play for each other and we have managed to contribute 15 goals between us in the league.

“I am looking forward to the Cup game against Dynamos and I promise fireworks. I know some of the players and their strengths and their weaknesses.

“But we are just a small team which is trying to reach the final, something which has never been achieved by the club before.

Even Dynamos manager Richard Chihoro said they were concerned by the threat posed by the Gweru side and would approach the match with caution. “Cup games are hard to predict. Chapungu are a good side and even their position on the log table shows that they are a good team which is organised.

“Their morale is high after they scored four goals against Buffaloes over the weekend but they should know that they are playing the big boys,” he said.

“We began our preparations on Tuesday (yesterday) and everyone is fit except for the players that are still sidelined with injuries.

“Augustine Mbara and Artwell Mukandi had their plasters removed and are still recovering together with Kudzanai Nyakasaka,” Chihoro said.

Fixtures

Saturday: ZPC Kariba FC v Harare City (Mandava, 3pm, SS).

Sunday: Chapungu v Dynamos (Mandava, 3pm, SS).