CAPS United melt in Triangle

From Tawanda Mangoma and Paul Mundandi in Triangle

Triangle ………………………………….(0) 2
CAPS United….…………………………(1) 1

HARARE giants CAPS United failed to hang on to their first-half lead when they allowed hosts Triangle to come from behind and steal victory in this Castle Lager Premiership soccer match at Gibbo yesterday.

The Green Machine took the lead when Kelvin Bulaji’s effort was deflected by Jimmy Tigere for an own goal. Triangle equalised in the 60th minute after Tendai Samanja handled inside the box and referee Makonese Masakadza did not hesitate to point to the spot. And upstepped the home side’s goalkeeper Ronald Mudimu to beat his opposite number Tafadzwa Dube.

Courage Denias then scored the winner for Triangle with his first touch when he connected a corner from Cabby Kamhapa.

Former Eagles skipper Denias had replaced Hardlife Muvindi in the 68th minute and the One Wallet Cup winners Triangle could have increased their lead in the 89th minute but Praise Tonha’s 25 yard free-kick hit the upright.

Triangle head coach Biggie Zuze said he was happy with the win as it gives them hope for survival.

“I am very happy with the win, the team managed to put up a strong second half performance and this is good for our fight for relegation,” he said.

His counterpart Taurai Mangwiro said he was disappointed for conceding a silly penalty.

“We failed to hold on to our lead and we conceded a silly goal,” said Mangwiro.

Meanwhile, Triangle have appointed Kelvin Kaindu as their technical advisor with immediate effect.

The club president Lovemore Matikinyidze could neither confirm nor deny the appointment yesterday.

“Kindly speak to my club chairman and he will give you the details,” he sad. “I have been receiving a lot of phone calls from a number of newspapers but it’s news to me.”

However, Kaindu, who was recently sacked by Highlanders, came and greeted his new boss escorted by team manager Cherechedzai Murare during yesterday’s match against CAPS United at Gibbo.

Kaindu was sitting on the VIP area taking notes in the company of Murare who was assisting him with the names of players he is still to familiarise with and after the game the coach left his VIP seat and headed for the dressing room where he met the players and the technical team.

“We have appointed Kaindu until the end of the season. Our aim is to survive relegation as our technical bench is not strong. The coach Biggie (Zuze) is a very good coach but his assistants are kind of weak. If we survive (the chop) he will definitely land the job next season but we will not fire Zuze,” said a source at the club.

“At one point Triangle wanted to give Kaindu a one-off payment if the team survives relegation or pay him a hefty salary for the remaining two months if the team remains in the Premier League,” the source added. Kaindu loves the environment in Zimbabwe and has been on record saying he was prepared to work with any team in this country.

“I love Zimbabwe and if any team approaches me I will not hesitate to be part of them. Zimbabwe is a nice country, the fans and players are just good,” said the Zambian coach a month ago when news started to filter that he was a wanted man in the Lowveld.

Kaindu was forced out at Highlanders last month after doing well for the past three seasons. He had transformed the team into a championship winning side but a divided executive and forces who are eyeing the chairmanship post next season pushed him out from the famous Bulawayo club. The Herald