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Tawanda Muparati

Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
TRIPPLE B might be struggling to stay afloat in their maiden season of top-flight football but the minnows from Beitbridge have said they are ready to cause an upset when they meet champions Dynamos in the first round of the Mbada Diamonds Cup at Gibbo tomorrow. The team’s coach Peter Manoti yesterday warned Dynamos should not expect an easy afternoon, which immediately brings memories of the champions’ first round clash against relegated Quelaton at Rufaro last year.

Triple B, who have former DeMbare players Timire Mamvura and Alick Marime on their books, are enjoying a clean bill of health and Manoti is expecting all his players to be available for selection.

“We are prepared for this game and I can tell you that the spirits here are very high. Everyone is confident and beside the financial benefits in this competition, playing against Dynamos is in itself a big motivator,” said Manoti.

Being the underdogs, the Tshintsha Magiya are, however, not under illusion of the task in their hands. The Premiership newboys have refused to be cowed by the profile of their opponents, despite being a bunch comprising mostly of unknown players.

Mamvura, Marime, former Monomotapa striker Makai Kawashu and goalkeeper Tapiwa Mafunga are probably the only familiar names.
Manoti yesterday said cup games are always difficult to call and hopes to cause an upset.

“All teams have a chance when it comes to cup games. It’s only that we started our season badly because of the extensive travelling. We played some of our home games at Mandava and then travel as far as Hwange, which was not healthy for the team.

“We couldn’t have enough time to prepare for the other assignments and once we started playing our games at our home ground that’s when we started picking up points,” said Manoti.

Dynamos will take the adage “once bitten, twice shy” more seriously as they begin this new campaign.  Last year, Dynamos survived a first round scare as they needed a penalty shoot-out to get rid of stubborn Premiership newboys Quelaton despite the match appearing a mismatch on paper.

DeMbare hold the distinction of having lifted the trophy twice and remain the only team to have won it since its inception in 2011. They are now running for a record third which will see them keep the silverware for good, if they are successful again.

The Harare giants, however, will need to negotiate their way past another new side, who like Quelaton at that time, are also facing relegation in their maiden season of Premiership football.

Last year against Quelaton, DeMbare were held to a 1-1 draw during normal play and then edged their lowly opponents 4-2 after the penalty shoot-out.

Some degree of luck and Divine intervention counted on that difficult afternoon against the minnows when they forced their way through to the quarter-finals via a penalty shoot-out. It appears the champions have not forgotten the priceless lessons dished out by Quelaton last year.

Dynamos midfielder Tawanda Muparati said they drew some important lessons from that experience and will be more careful this time around.
DeMbare and Tripple B have met once this year in competitive matches with the Glamour Boys pulling their first away win this season courtesy of the Beitbridge side in a match played at neutral venue at Mandava.

But the team’s vice-captain Muparati this week told The Herald that they will not be tempted to underrate their lowly opponents.
“We are expecting a good game. We learnt from our mistakes last year and we will not underrate any team no matter how bad it might be performing. In fact, Dynamos usually do not have it easy against these so-called small teams.

“They usually give us all sorts of problems and if you see what happened last year against Quelaton you will understand where I am coming from. We needed penalties to win the match yet everyone had expected us to steamroll past them. So I don’t think it is fine to underrate any team in a cup competition. We need to be at our best,” said Muparati.

DeMbare, however, said they are not leaving anything to chance and have been training in the afternoon to help players acclimatise to the hot conditions they expect in the Lowveld tomorrow.

Team manager Richard Chihoro said they are now ready for the match with no injuries in their camp following the recovery of Oscar Machapa and Augustine Mbara.

Dynamos are also set to welcome utility player Thomas Magorimbo who missed their last assignment in the Harare derby against CAPS United due to suspension.

Defender Partson Jaure and Russel Madamombe are also available for selection but the duo will not take part in Dynamos’ next league assignment at Hwange because of suspension.

“Everyone is pushing hard and now it becomes difficult for the coaches on who to leave out of the final 18. At least it’s a positive headache and we are calling on those selected to give their best because these days there is no small team.

“Every game should be treated equally no matter who we are playing. There is no room to relax because we are the champions,” said Chihoro.
The Harare giants have had good memories at Gibbo and they are returning to the Lowveld for the second time in a cup game this year. They beat Buffaloes 2-0 in the quarter-finals of the BancABC Sup8r Cup back in June and will be hoping for their good run of form to continue at the venue.

DeMbare were also successful at Gibbo in 2011 when they dismissed Hwange 2-0 in the quarter-finals of the BancABC Sup8r Cup.
The team’s vice captain Muparati said they are aiming to continue with their good run at the venue.

“We have played at Gibbo before and it is a good pitch. But what matters most is preparing well for an assignment and I think we did our best in terms of the preparations. The spirits are high and everyone is looking forward to this game.”