Caps United hard hit by 4 player suspensions

By Grace Chingoma

CAPS United were dealt a huge blow yesterday after their four key players — midfielders Tendai Samanja, Hardlife Zvirekwi, David Rediyoni and leftback Asani Nhongo — were suspended for the Castle Lager Premiership tie against Monomotapa on Sunday at Rufaro.

The players are sitting on three yellow cards and yesterday PSL released a statement with the full list of suspended players with the Green Machine the hardest-hit club.

Interestingly, the four players have been the best performing stars at a resurgent CAPS United and losing all of them, at once, will be a big blow to the Green Machine.

Last night, CAPS United assistant coach Mkhupali “Mr Cooper” Masuku said this was a big blow to the team but they will soldier on. “It is quite a blow but, maybe, a blessing in disguise,” said Masuku.

“We will soldier on and it is an opportunity for other players to prove themselves as we have a lot of good players at the club.”

Samanja has been the heart of the CAPS United midfield in the past few matches while Zvirekwi has been doing well on the right side of the midfield. And at yesterday’s weekly Press briefing, the former Gunners’ man had promised to do his best against the in-form Monomotapa.

“It is not going to be an easy game for us. They won’t let us off the hook easily and it’s going to be a tough game. I think we have progressed so well because of team spirit, oneness, unity and I think we are doing well.

“I would like to thank my teammates for complementing me. It is always about team work, and I think I will add value to the weekend’s match,” said Zvirekwi.

He didn’t know then that he would be suspended from taking part in Sunday’s game. Speaking at the same Press briefing, Masuku said they were expecting a tough encounter and the battle would be won in midfield.

“Monoz is a good side, playing good football and we are looking forward to an exciting game. We have some players who have been at Monomotapa as well as our coach so maybe it is a mini-derby.

“We are going to play our normal game and nothing special. The battle will be won in midfield, we play similar football and the match will be won in midfield. We would have preferred to play at National Sports Stadium but the match would be screened on SuperSport, so we will play at Rufaro,” said Masuku.

CAPS United shifted their base from Rufaro to the National Sports Stadium saying the Mbare ground, the home of their bitter rivals Dynamos, was not a happy hunting ground for them. The Green Machine also feel their players express themselves better on the natural grass of the National Sports Stadium.

Masuku reiterated that survival remains their main focus and saluted his charges for showing character against Quelaton in last weekend’s 1-1 draw. “We are not yet safe from relegation zone and our focus remains survival. We still need six points to be sure but for now we still in the mud.

“Relegation bound teams are not easy to beat and it was a tough match especially when we missed a penalty and two minutes later we conceded a goal and two minutes later we equalised. We showed character as CAPS United,” said Masuku.

Rahman Kutsanzira missed the penalty against Quelaton while giant forward Nqobile Mpala, playing only his third match as a member of the starting XI, opened his goal account for the Green Machine.

Zvirekwi, who has turned into one of the best players on the domestic Premiership since settling at the Green Machine, will miss a huge opportunity to market his skills across Africa given his suspension rules him out of this match that will be televised live.

Fixtures

Today: *Harare City FC Vs Blue Rangers (Rufaro).

Tomorrow: Chicken Inn FC v Hardbody (Luveve), *Motor Action v FC Platinum (Rufaro), Gunners v Quelaton (Lafarge).

Sunday: *CAPS United v Monomotapa (Rufaro), Hwange v Dynamos (Colliery), Highlanders v Black Mambas (Barbourfields), Shabanie Mine v Buffaloes (Maglas).

*To be broadcast on SuperSport.

Suspensions

Zibusiso Sibanda (Quelaton), Stephen Alimenda, Callisto Maheya (Hardbody), Tendai Samanja, Hardlife Zvirekwi, Asani Nhongo, David Rediyoni(CAPS United), Roy Mwenga, Phineas Bamusi (Buffaloes), Kasimero Chimbadzwa(Black Mambas), Byron Madzokere (Gunners), Morris Kadzola (Motor Action), Daniel Vheremu(FC Platinum), Willard Kalongonda (Harare City), Farai Visimai(Hwange).