By Sheldon Hakata
HARARE titans Dynamos and CAPS United resume their rivalry when they clash in a Charity Challenge Cup at the National Sports Stadium (NSS) on Sunday.
It will be an encounter that will provide a foretaste of the two giants’ performances after an indifferent season last year.
The Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) powerhouses failed to live up to their glowing histories in the season gone by, with DeMbare at some point having to contend with a bruising battle against relegation.
The two teams resume their rivalry 20 days before the PSL season starts.
They have been active on the transfer market, acquiring new players in their bid to erase the ghost of last season.
The topflight clubs have moved a gear up in their preparations.
The Charity Challenge Cup presents soccer fans with some entertainment as bigwigs clash for early season honours.
Winners will walk away with $20 000, while losing finalists will bag $15 000 in a match that will be used to fundraise for the selected less privileged, disadvantaged groups and individuals.
The Charity Challenge Cup comes as the right platform to boost players mentally before the 2019 PSL season kicks-off.
The tournament will have two Harare-based clubs (Dynamos and CAPS United) battling at the ceremonial home of football.
The big derby gives supporters a chance to gauge their teams’ progress ahead of what promises to be an exciting PSL season.
Dynamos might be fielding several unheralded young players desperate for recognition.
Walter Sande and Tawanda Chisi are some of the youngsters likely to be thrown at the deep-end in Sunday’s encounter.
Several foreign players have been trying their luck at Dynamos.
Congolese striker Ngandu Mangala signed for the Glamour Boys (Dynamos), while Ghanaian Robert Sackey, a defensive midfielder, has been enlisted in the provisional squad after impressing gaffer Lloyd Chigowe.
Cameroonian midfielder Vincent Mbega Herve also seems to have done enough to secure a contract with Dynamos.
Both clubs are in the process of rebuilding their sides, so, this being the first competitive action during pre-season, will be used to assess progress.
Dynamos is building its squad from scratch after key players left due various reasons, among them, non-payment of winning bonuses and sign-on fees.
The two teams need to identify new talent before venturing into the boiling pot (PSL).
Dynamos managed to retain Jimmy Tigere, Godfrey Mukambi, Kudzanai Dhemere, Tawanda Macheke and goalie Simba Chinami.
Returnee and veteran striker Edward Sadomba has been given the captain’s armband.
On the other hand, apart from retaining some bright players, CAPS United chose to do away with old horses such as Stephen Makatuka, Carrington Munzambwa and Dennis Dauda, among others.
Phineas Bhamusi who was instrumental in CAPS United’s title win in 2016 and CAF Champions League campaign in 2017 which saw them reaching the mini-league stage has returned to the club after a one-year stint at Triangle FC.
Bhamusi helped Triangle FC win the Chibuku Super Cup last season.
The move to Triangle FC was a blessing in disguise for the nimble-footed young soccer prodigy as he made it onto the calendar last season as Triangle FC finished fourth on the PSL log standings.
The Soccer Star-of-the-Year finalist might be CAPS United’s ‘saviour’ on Sunday.
The Green Machine’s new signings, former Highlander’s striker Gabriel Nyoni and former Chapungu striker Clive Rupiya may be too hot to handle for Dynamos on Sunday.
Ronald Chitiyo is also another returnee to the Green Machine.
Organisers of the Charity Challenge Cup decided to take the game to the giant NSS in order to attract thousands of fans.
The Charity Challenge Cup is sponsored by Passion Events.
The Charity Challenge Cup came to be after it was confirmed that Dynamos would not defend their title in the 2019 ZNA Charity Shield edition.
Two teams from Bulawayo (Chicken Inn and Highlanders) will battle it out in this year’s pre-season ZNA charity tournament.
The cheapest ticket at Rufaro Stadium will be $5 for the rest of the ground, while the VIP stand is pegged at $30.
Meanwhile, the PSL has released fixtures for the 2019 season.
New boys Mushowani Stars and Manica Diamond will commence the season with stern tests against big guns Dynamos and CAPS United respectively.
Let the games begin!