Harare Derby Carries More Than Just Bragging Rights

This Sunday, Rufaro Stadium will host one of the most iconic fixtures in Zimbabwean football – the Harare Derby between Dynamos FC and CAPS United. However, this year’s edition is far from the traditional clash of giants, as both clubs find themselves in deep crisis heading into Matchday 12 of the 2025 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.

Historically regarded as powerhouses of local football, both Dynamos and CAPS United are currently languishing near the bottom of the league table. Dynamos, who have endured a turbulent few seasons, are in the relegation zone, having managed just one win from their opening 11 fixtures. They have drawn five and lost five matches, with a particularly humbling 1-0 defeat to Kwekwe United FC (their only win this season) adding to the frustration. The club has seen 11 different coaches in the past 12 years, with newly appointed Saul Chamunika taking over just this week.

Meanwhile, CAPS United are only slightly better off, sitting in the bottom five. Their record of two wins, three draws, and six losses paints a bleak picture of a club equally desperate for direction and results. A defeat to their city rivals would only deepen the unrest among their supporters.

Fan unrest is already boiling over. Dynamos supporters, unhappy with the club’s leadership under board chairman Bernard Marriot Lusengo, have vowed to boycott the match at Rufaro. Many fans feel that the problems at the club go far beyond coaching, pointing instead to poor management and the fading legacy of the once-revered Glamour Boys.

This match could prove pivotal for both clubs. For Dynamos, it is a chance to begin a new chapter under Chamunika and show some fight for their fading pride. For CAPS United, avoiding defeat could help restore some faith and stability.

Whatever the result, Sunday’s derby is more than just a battle for three points—it is a fight for identity, pride, and the soul of Harare’s football giants.

Final Prediction: Dynamos 0 – CAPS 0