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In Zimbabwe, the known rivalry is between Dynamos and Highlanders as the big two in the country with a big following. The matches involving the two teams always attract the highest turn out and in field and off field scenes are common.

Caps United and Dynamos also fight for the control of Harare and in Bulawayo, Highlanders always had it tough in a derby against Zimbabwe Saints for the control of the City of Kings and Queens. Then came in AmaZulu and Railstars and now there is Chicken Inn and Quelaton, although the intensity of the rivalry keeps on dying down, owing largely to the fact that Highlanders’ opponents do not command a large fan base like what Saints used to do back then.

While Bulawayo football lovers can mourn the death of a real derby atmosphere, the situation is different when you travel to Zvishavane, yes Zvishavane, that small mining town. The rivalry between Shabanie, the traditional owners of the town, and FC Platinum, the new masters of the game, is so intense and gives a refreshing football atmosphere–an atmosphere that is now non-existent in Bulawayo.

The first battle for the control of Zvishavane ended in a 2-2 stalemate last Saturday with Shabanie coming from two goals down to force a share of the spoils. But what a match it was. What a football atmosphere it was.

You have to give credit to FC Platinum for luring such a massive fan base with only one year in the Premiership, as they had more fans at Mandava stadium, but you also cannot ignore the fact that Shabanie refused to lie down and have risen with their fans coming in numbers to support their team. More so, their fans are the more vociferous, at times more militant and violent, as evidenced by their throwing of missiles into the pitch on more than two occasions.

The star of the show however, was FC Platinum talisman Charles Sibanda whose first half goals could easily contend for best goals of the season. In fact, his first goal was from the top shelf. He shrugged off a challenge from three opponents on the far side, just after the centre line, charged forward with about four steps before unleashing a powerful left footer that hit the roof of the net to silence the visitors. And his celebration was also from the top drawer. He ran across to the his coach, Rahman Gumbo, hugged him tight like a kid who had been crying all day and suddenly, the heart loosens up when the father arrives!

That was a goal to win matches, but it’s a pity even if he scored another beauty from inside the box a few minutes later, Shabanie came back when they scored a soft ball with a header from the box with the FC Platinum defence not man-marking. That goal actually gave Shabanie reason to believe again that yes, we can do it. Yes we can beat them. And soon after resumption, they started pouring forward in within minutes got a penalty to level the scores, although the FC Platinum family, aided by the benefit of video footage, will cry foul that the man who was fouled was actually coming from an offside position. But such is football.

In any case, the tense atmosphere made life difficult for the match officials and god knows what would have happened that day had Shabanie lost.

Anyone coming from mars would have been forgiven for believing that they had won the match as after the final whistle, players ran onto the pitch and celebrated. Fans celebrated in and outside the stadium and into the town, blocking the main roads, singing, carrying placards and saying all sorts of derogatory things to their opponents.

Perhaps their joy came from salvaging a point in a game that looked as good as in the bag for FC Platinum in the first 30 minutes. Maybe their joy came from salvaging a point in a game their finished one man down.

Maybe their joy came from salvaging a draw with a team with the best players from last season, and perhaps a team with far better resources than them.

Interestingly, unconfirmed word doing the rounds was that the Shabanie leadership had slaughtered a beast for fans to feast on before the game and that added to the excitement to the whole derby. The derby in Zvishavane is alive and joins the least of other matches with serious rivalry the world over.

Here are some of the fiercest rivalries in the world of football.

Orlando Pirates v Kaizer Chiefs, Al-Ahly v ZamalekCorinthians v Palmeiras, Nacional v Penarol, Internazionale v Milan, Manchester United v Manchester City, Internazionale v Juventus, Boca Juniors v River Plate, Celtic v Rangers, Lazio v Roma, Real Madrid v Barcelona, AC Milan v Inter Milan

Our prayer: Hopefully Chicken Inn, who have started the season well, will reignite the Bulawayo derby with Highlanders this season.

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