Fanuel Viriri
4 October 2008
THE fairy-tale African Champions League first-leg semi-final pitting Zimbabwe football Kings, Dynamos and surprise packets Cameroonian champions, Cotonsport Garoua, explodes at Rufaro Stadium this afternoon.
A word of caution from Dynamos captain, Murape Murape: "It's anybody's match."
DeMbare have broken a 10-year jinx to make it to the semi-finals of the continent's richest tournament, while the Cameroonian giants are making their first-ever appearance at this stage of the competition.
But easy talking but lion-hearted Dynamos skipper, Murape warned the semi-final tie was not a stroll in the park.
"As much as we would love to win, it's anybody's game. The fact that Cotonsport have reached this stage of the competition means that they are good. I have watched videos of the team," Murape said.
He said his troops would have to be cautious of the big Cameroonians, who thrive on sheer power and pace.
"The players are naturally big; I guess bigger than most of us but then football is football. We need to go into the match with a level head and play our usual passing game."
The skipper who had a minor calf problem but has fully recovered reported a clean bill of health with all the players raring to go.
Nothing much has changed in the Dynamos camp and their Champions League squad is as predictable as day and night.
The script could however change slightly if Dynamos coach David Mandigora gambles with Desmond Maringwa, who only played in the opening game of the Champions League. But this could backfire as Maringwa last played in the second round of the Champions League on May 10 in Tunisia against Etoile du Sahel. Maringwa is however a talisman as he scored the winner against the same side on April 27, in the first leg, before setting Benjamin Marere for the victory in the reverse fixture. He could however struggle with match-fitness after spending weeks at Milpark Medical Centre, South Africa, undergoing specialist treatment.
Suspended first choice goalie Willard Manyatera will watch the match from the terraces after picking unnecessary yellow cards. Manyatera, a key DeMbare member, does not seem to learn as he served his first suspension when he sat out the opening Group A match against ASEC Mimosas on July 20, which ironically was at Rufaro Stadium. Zondai Nyaungwa will be called in to fill the big boots of Manyatera. The left-back position is Reuben Mhlanga's home while at right-back is Brighton Tuwaya. The "resident" central defenders are tough-as-teak Thomas Sweswe and Lovemore Maphuya.
Justice Majabvi and Murape Murape will pull the strings in midfield, while upfront lethal Philip Marufu and speedy Edward Sadomba will run the show.
Benjamin Marere who had a fine outing against Zamalek in DeMbare's last Champions League encounter is also on fire.
Cotonsport's youthful French coach Oumbleon Guedon Alain is also taking a cautious approach to the match and spoke highly of the Harare giants, probably to distract them.
"We have known Dynamos over the years and everybody knows that they are a good team. We watched them play their last three matches and I was impressed with their performance against Al Ahly," Alain said.
"We know it's going to be a difficult match, nobody can say what is going to happen but we have a very ambitious team and we are very simple."
The nine-time Cameroon league champions have a midfielder from Senegal, Bamba Thiam, while most of their foreign players are from Niger -- goalkeeper Daonda Kamilon, striker Kassaly Daonda and midfielder Karim Lancima.
By qualifying for the semi-finals, Dynamos have guaranteed themselves about US$427 500 from the prize money, with US$22 500 coming into the Zimbabwe Football Association coffers.
It is not clear how much they will earn from television rights.
If Dynamos qualify for the finals, the Glamour Boys will be guaranteed US$665 000, with a further US$35 000 going to the association. The champions of the tournament will walk away with US$950 000, with US$50 000 going to the winners' mother association.
The winners of the tournament are get a further US$1 million for the Fifa Club World Cup tournament in Japan in December.
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