By McGeorge Mbare
THE battle for the Limpopo River is upon us.
It comes with the atmosphere already in the border town now at a boiling point as Dulibadzimu United FC meets Vhembe Stars Academy in a crosstown rivalry this Saturday.
Both teams fight for critical positioning in their ZIFA Central Region Soccer League Division One where both badly need points to be in the top eight.
This is the first time when the old horse Dulis and debutants Vhembe Stars clash in an official fixture and this weekend’s derby is shaping up to be one of the most explosive in recent history.
The two are sister teams sharing far much more than Zimbabwe’ bustling town of Beitbridge.
Their names are drawn from the physical boundary between neighbours South Africa and Zimbabwe, the mighty Limpopo River, otherwise known as Gulugudela or Crocodile River or Vhembe, from where the visitors in this match draw their name.
The home team, at least for this match, Dulibadzimu United is named after a sacred pool on the Vhembe River where preliminary rain-making ceremonies for the ancient Mapungubwe Kingdom (now Zimbabwe) were held before visiting the Njelele Shrine in Matobo.
Vhembe is the Venda name for the Limpopo River.
Executives in Vhembe and the directorship are former Dulibadzimu United people who left to start a new adventure for reasons of diversity perhaps, or autonomy.
On the other hand Dulis is driven by executives who have been at the helm for years and know the ABC of soccer derbies, the meaning it carries to the community and the pride at stake.
The teams share technical staff who have worked, played and lived together! Brothers in arms.
The players are brothers who will battle it out for supremacy and pride knowing after the game they share the same plates, same friends and the same community.
This recipe is exactly what an explosive fixture is all about, a family feud.
Dulis banks on its experience, having been formed way bank in 2017 and having rubbed shoulders with many teams in its long journey of existence.
Featuring the likes of dependable no nonsense Louis Matambo in its defence, Ronaldinho Muleya and a new look midfielder in Brooklyn Makawa Fish and revelling in sunshine of a comfortable victory over Matobo last weekend, Dulis will dare to roll.
Upfront ball player Liam and veteran striker Jimmy Matambanadzo together with speedy Evidence Chiraswa are likely to cause havoc and handfuls for Vhembe defence.
Vhembe Stars on the other end speak about young blood, players who take instructions and have been exhibiting traits of total soccer.
The youthful debutants would want away their recent form to replace it with victory to prove a point they are coming in hot.
Boasting of speedy wingers and attacks that can rise from anywhere, Vhembe want to edge out their “big brother” in the battle for the border town.
Speaking ahead of the derby, Coach Blessing Madombi said: “We continue to prepare for the match, not just because it’s a local derby, but because it’s an important match just like any other fixture where we fight to win. We fight as a team to secure all three points, just like in any other game,” Madombi said.
Vhembe Stars Academy currently sits in 14th position with 10 points from 12 games. The Greens, famously known by their motto _‘U Vhumba la Matshelo’, had a rough start which saw them lose 6 matches, with 2 victories and 4 draws in 12 games. Meanwhile, border town traditional giants Dulibadzimu sit 12th with 12 points, just 2 points ahead of their local rivals Vhembe Stars.
Vhembe Stars Academy vice chair Felix Venge expressed confidence in his boys to do well.
“We are looking forward to one of the best games. It means a lot to the Beitbridge fans and we hope the team delivers,” Venge said.
The much-anticipated Vhembe-Dulis derby comes a year after the Dulibadzimu-Bishopstone clash ended due to Bishopstone’s withdrawal following financial woes. Past derbies were not determined by form but were unpredictable and superb, hence many fans will be looking forward to Vhembe Stars being a competitive side.
Security will be beefed up for the derby where authorities are not leaving anything to chance.
It is understood after the Kwekwe problems where Hardrock and Dynamos fans fought, extra caution is now in place for any game, anywhere in Zimbabwe.
Crowds should expect enhanced measures with rumours uniformed personnel may be increased or new sectors introduced.
Several meetings are reportedly being held in different departments to an ensure a violence-free environment envelopes the battle of the Limpopo.
Security sources spoke of more boots on the ground and the possibility of an environment where for the first time marshals facing the ground could be introduced.
While Beitbridge residents are not known for violence, every minute has to be under scrutiny.