CAPS United coach Lloyd Chitembwe has castigated Warriors coach Michael Nees and the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) after being barred from using his captain, Godknows Murwira, in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match against Dynamos at Rufaro Stadium on Sunday.
Both Murwira and Dynamos vice-captain Emmanuel Jalai were among the few locally-based players called up by Nees for the upcoming 2025 AFCON qualifiers against Namibia, scheduled for October 10 and 14. 
Neither player participated in the Harare Derby, which CAPS United won 2-1.
In an ironic twist, Dynamos goalkeeper Martin Mapisa, who is also part of the Warriors squad, was permitted to play in the match.
Chitembwe criticised the inconsistency, pointing out that players from around the world who were called up for international duty were allowed to compete for their clubs on Sunday. Said Chitembwe (via <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/chitembwe-blasts-nees-zifa/">The Herald</a>):
<blockquote>
I don’t mind what people think of what I say but I’m extremely disappointed with what happened with Godknows.
He is our important player he is our captain and for that matter, we need him in important matches.
This game was important for us but if some clown somewhere thinks he can make decisions on behalf of a team that I coach, it’s very unfortunate.
Look (Cameroon goalkeeper) Andre Onana; they are also participating in the same competition that Zimbabwe are participating but he played today (yesterday) for his club (Manchester United against Aston Villa).
Khama Billiat played yesterday (on Saturday). Jordan Zemura played; they all played. But someone thinks he wants to change the way we think and this is not the first time our national team has participated in these competitions.
What irks me most is the fact that, when coach Jairos Tapera was in charge, the PSL refused to release the players and they had the right to do that because it was within the rules.
People now tend to listen to an expat coach more than they listen to a fellow Africans. We don’t need those things in our football.
We don’t want someone who comes in and thinks he is a big elephant in the room.
What is more embarrassing is the fact that they went on to threaten players, that if you don’t listen to this call up then we will not consider you for future assignments. What is that?
This is clowning and people are grandstanding and it’s just unfortunate.
</blockquote>
Warriors vice-captain Marshall Munetsi played for his French Ligue 1 side, Stade de Reims, and scored on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Jordan Zemura was key to Udinese’s 1-0 victory over Lecce in Serie A on Saturday, also finding the back of the net.
In local action, Khama Billiat scored for Yadah Stars on Saturday, while Walter Musona also featured for Simba Bhora in their match on the same day.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

The CAPS United coach is angry because his captain, Godknows Murwira, couldn't play in their game against Dynamos due to national team duties. Other players were allowed to play for their clubs. The coach thinks it's unfair. The players who did play for their clubs did well, scoring goals. The coach believes foreign coaches are getting more respect than African coaches. He doesn't like how players are being threatened if they don't go for national team duty. The coach is upset and wants his players to be able to play for their club teams in important matches.

Chitembwe Slams Nees, ZIFA Over Murwira's Unavailability For Harare Derby

Harare Mayor, Councillor <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Jacob_Mafume">Jacob Mafume</a>, has reiterated that the Premier Soccer League match between Dynamos FC and CAPS United, dubbed the Harare Derby, will be played at <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Rufaro_Stadium">Rufaro Stadium</a> this season.
The 2023 football season kicks off this weekend and the derby will be in week seven of the 2023 season.
Mafume made the remarks during a recent tour of the ceremonial home of Zimbabwean Football which is undergoing renovations. He said:
<blockquote>
I’m certain that one of the biggest and important matches in the football calendar between Caps and Dynamos will be played in the stadium.
I have looked at the itinerary and I’m sure it will be played.
We have seen the pitch and the work being done, for the changing rooms we are going to have a shower for every player so that they don’t have to stand in a queue to shower.
We are going to make the changing rooms more airy and wider which would be comfortable for both the home and away team.
</blockquote>
He said the VIP stands, media area, among others and buckets seats will be changed stage by stage until the whole ground is covered.
Mafume added that automated irrigation will be placed so that the turf is continuously maintained. 
Football matches in the top division were last played at Rufaro Stadium in 2019 before the ZIFA First Instance Board red-flagged 45 000-seater Mbare facility in 2020 and declared it unfit to host premier football. 
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h2>

Mayor Mafume Says Harare Derby Will Be Played At Rufaro Stadium

The Castle Lager <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Zimbabwe_Premier_Soccer_League" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Premier Soccer League</a> has announced that football fans in and outside Zimbabwe will be able to watch Sunday’s, Harare Derby.
The PSL announced through social media that the match between <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Caps_United_Football_Club" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Caps United</a> and <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Dynamos_Football_Club" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Dynamos </a>to be played at the National Sports Stadium will be shown live on their official Facebook.
Caps United is top of the log table and is pushing for the title while Dynamos is just two points off the top four.
https://twitter.com/CastleLagerPSL/status/1197503351518306305?s=20

Premier Soccer League To Broadcast Harare Derby

There are concerns that the <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/National_Sports_Stadium" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">National Sports Stadium (NSS)</a> will be in a bad state when Dynamos and Caps United meet on Sunday in a Castle Lager <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Zimbabwe_Premier_Soccer_League" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Premier Soccer League</a> match.
NSS will host an All Night church service starting on Friday night until daybreak on Saturday.
The stadium is run by the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing.
The NSS turf has been in its worst condition in years and with tonight’s church service, and the current wet spell prevailing over Harare, the pitch is expected to be in a bad state on derby day.
The church service was supposed to be held last week but it coincided with the Warriors’ 2021 <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Africa_Cup_of_Nations" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Africa Cup of Nations</a> qualifier against Botswana which was played at the same venue on Friday.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/nss-to-host-church-service-ahead-of-derby/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Herald</a></h4>

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