News / Local
Dynamos target second position
08 Nov 2022 at 05:08hrs | Views
DYNAMOS are targeting a strong finish to the season when they take on bitter rivals Caps United in the last match of the 2022 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season.
DeMbare have endured a frustrating spell and failed to wrest the title away from FC Platinum, who sauntered to their fourth title on the trot.
The fading Harare giants have been left to fight for the scraps of a runners-up spot with former champions, Chicken Inn.
Their chances of finishing second faded following the defeat to Herentals on Sunday, which left them three points behind Chicken Inn.
Chicken Inn, who host Triangle in their final game of the season, need just a draw to secure the silver medal.
DeMbare need to put on a good show against the Green Machine and pray that Chicken Inn lose against Triangle.
Coach Tonderai Ndiraya acknowledges the significance of winning the last game of the season, especially against their city rivals and reckons they will be under pressure following the shock 1-0 defeat to the Students.
"We should be up for it (Harare derby). It's a difficult one. Derbies are always difficult and unpredictable. We will go in there without a favourable result behind us. We are getting in there with a defeat and that puts pressure on us but it's the nature of the game, we just have to be strong," he said.
"We played the first derby and won and it is our hope that we can do well and win this one. You always want to win. Despite being a derby, you always want to win the last game of the season so that you end the season on a high. But it's a difficult one, I must confess."
The Dynamos coach also revealed that they have had a disadvantage of playing after their title rivals have played for the better part of the season.
"To sum it all, that has been us this season. We have been playing after our rivals have played and considering the pressure our team has on its own and the pressure of a result of your rivals, it puts more pressure on players and most of them it's their first full season with us and it's extremely difficult for some of them to handle the pressure. But I am happy with that pressure, the team has done extremely well. Most of the players are in their first season with us," Ndiraya said.
The Harare football giants will, however, have to wait a bit before they know their final position at the end of the campaign as this weekend has been set aside for the Chibuku Super Cup final between Herentals and Bulawayo Chiefs at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday.
DeMbare have endured a frustrating spell and failed to wrest the title away from FC Platinum, who sauntered to their fourth title on the trot.
The fading Harare giants have been left to fight for the scraps of a runners-up spot with former champions, Chicken Inn.
Their chances of finishing second faded following the defeat to Herentals on Sunday, which left them three points behind Chicken Inn.
Chicken Inn, who host Triangle in their final game of the season, need just a draw to secure the silver medal.
DeMbare need to put on a good show against the Green Machine and pray that Chicken Inn lose against Triangle.
"We should be up for it (Harare derby). It's a difficult one. Derbies are always difficult and unpredictable. We will go in there without a favourable result behind us. We are getting in there with a defeat and that puts pressure on us but it's the nature of the game, we just have to be strong," he said.
"We played the first derby and won and it is our hope that we can do well and win this one. You always want to win. Despite being a derby, you always want to win the last game of the season so that you end the season on a high. But it's a difficult one, I must confess."
The Dynamos coach also revealed that they have had a disadvantage of playing after their title rivals have played for the better part of the season.
"To sum it all, that has been us this season. We have been playing after our rivals have played and considering the pressure our team has on its own and the pressure of a result of your rivals, it puts more pressure on players and most of them it's their first full season with us and it's extremely difficult for some of them to handle the pressure. But I am happy with that pressure, the team has done extremely well. Most of the players are in their first season with us," Ndiraya said.
The Harare football giants will, however, have to wait a bit before they know their final position at the end of the campaign as this weekend has been set aside for the Chibuku Super Cup final between Herentals and Bulawayo Chiefs at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday.
Source - Newsday Zimbabwe
