HARARE - Caps United believe starting Sunday’s Mbada Diamonds Cup semi-final against bitter rivals Dynamos as underdogs provide plenty of motivation to send their rivals tumbling out of the competition.

United lost 2-0 to Motor Action in a Castle Premiership match last Saturday while DeMbare, who are the Cup holders, overcame glitzy Monomotapa 2-1 a day later.

The two Harare giants clash at Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayo.

CAPS captain Tapiwa Kumbuyani has downplayed the loss to the Mighty Bulls.

“The Motor Action game was a league match while Sunday’s game will be a cup game,” said Kumbuyani.

“This is a different game and I can assure you we will be up for the challenge. We know everyone regards us as the underdogs who will be easily be overrun by Dynamos.

“The underdog tag will relieve pressure off CAPS and enable us to be very competitive. We have prepared well for the game.”

The former Monoz, Blue Ribbon and Chapungu right-back reckons the lure of playing on the continent will spur the former Cup Kings of Zimbabwean football.

“Representing Zimbabwe in the Caf Confederation Cup is a big motivating factor. We would really be honoured to represent Zimbabwe but we have to win the Mbada Cup for that to happen and that takes a lot of hard work.”

Kumbuyani is confident Makepekepe can cope with the absence of head coach Taurai Mangwiro, who was recently handed a 10-year ban by Zifa after being found guilty of match-fixing and illegal betting in the Asiagate scam.

“It is a sad thing to lose a coach but we have to soldier on. I am sure he will be the happiest man if we go on to lift the Mbada Cup.

“It is possible that some players were mentally affected by his ban during the Motor Action game but my belief is that we just had a bad game that day.”

CAPS come up against a Dynamos side on the verge of making history. Calisto Pasuwa’s men are well-placed to win a league and cup double for the second year running.

The way the Glamour Boys were completely outplayed in the first half by Monomotapa but went on to beat the 2008 Zimbabwe champions demonstrates their ability to grind out results.

If DeMbare show the same grit and never-say-die spirit, then CAPS will really have to dig deep to make it into the 2012 Mbada Diamonds Cup final.