Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
THE last CAPS United skipper to lead the Green Machine to victory over Dynamos in a league match, Method Mwanjali, says his former team should not put itself under extreme pressure to break the five-year jinx ahead of the Harare Derby tomorrow.
The Mpumalanga Black Aces defender, who is back home as he sorts out his work permit and employment papers, yesterday told The Saturday Herald it was possible his team could break the jinx tomorrow.
Veteran broadcaster Charles Mabika yesterday said this was the 73rd edition of the Harare Derby after a number of newspapers claimed it was the 72nd meeting of the giants.
“As players we set ourselves certain standards and there are usually huge expectations from the supporters as well,” said Mwanjali.
“So many things will be going through your mind the moment you step onto the pitch, things that cannot be understood by the people in the terraces.
“You will be playing for your own reputation, there is also the club reputation to protect and at the same time you are representing thousands of supporters. So it’s not easy.
“But my simple advice is that they should not weigh themselves down with pressure. They should start looking at it just like any other game.
“After all, it’s three points on the line. Probably the only difference between this game and any other game they have played this season is that this is called a derby.
“I remember these derbies were the most difficult games but as a team you have to grind results. It was always a hard week preparing for it but the bottom line is that they should not panic.”
CAPS United are still searching for the formula to beat Dynamos since April 2009 when they last beat their arch-rivals, courtesy of Nyasha Mushekwi’s brace at Rufaro.
“Of course, I am CAPS United through and through and I would want them to win on Sunday. But don’t forget this is a derby and form usually doesn’t count.
“It’s how you conduct yourself during the 90 minutes,” said Mwanjali.
Meanwhile, CAPS United will launch a blitz against vendors who might have wanted to take advantage of the big game tomorrow to sell unlicensed club merchandise.
The club’s public relations manager, Joyce Kapota, yesterday said that systems have been put in place to curb loss of revenue through the illegal activities.
CAPS United announced that no cars will be allowed in the VVIP car park.
CAPS United have a kit deal with Roar Gear, which is the exclusive licensee of the CAPS United logo trademarks.
Kapota said the club’s official replicas are available directly from Roar Gear, the club’s offices, Beta Ball Sports and at their provincial chapters.
“We shall be confiscating all merchandise with our logo and names from vendors. In line with our intellectual property rights, anyone selling merchandise with our names and logo shall be liable for prosecution.
“Our legal department is working on that and we will soon target shops in town who are selling fake regalia. We have information that these materials are being imported in large quantities from Tanzania where they are being printed by unlicensed people.
“They sale the fake regalia made from cheap material for as little as US$10 against the official price of US$30.
It’s very unfair to the club since we also have our marketing arm which is distributing club merchandise. We are losing thousands of dollars as a club through that and that hasn’t helped our already strained coffers,” said Kapota.