Caps United sack striker Evans Gwekwerere

By Augustine Hwata

HARARE- Out of favour striker Evans Gwekwerere has sought urgent audience with CAPS United directors amid revelations yesterday that the technical department and the club’s management had agreed to expel the striker for disciplinary reasons.

The former Warriors forward missed training on Monday as the Green Machine were still reeling from a surprise 2-0 defeat by Chicken Inn at Gwanzura on Saturday.

The club’s technical department had emphasised the need for all the players to attend Monday’s training session where they were to discuss shortcomings exposed during the game against Chicken Inn.

Gwekwerere was introduced as a second half substitute during the game after some fans had called for his inclusion as the team was misfiring from the front. However, the seasoned forward failed to rescue the Green Machine.

Yesterday, Gwekwerere joined the team at training as they played Twalumba FC, formerly Highfield United in a practice match. While almost every other player was given a run, Gwekwerere was left in the cold.

The player yesterday admitted that his CAPS United future was now uncertain.

“I have trained with the team and I should be training again tomorrow (today). At the moment I do not have any clue to what is happening. I do not know whether I am wanted or not at the club,” said Gwekwerere.

The former Moroka Swallows and Jomo Cosmos forward said he is now seeking audience to find out his position at the club.

“Maybe I need to speak to the club directors and know about my future. I should not be staying in a home where I am not wanted. So I am just hoping for an amicable solution,” said Gwekwerere.

He however, said he was still to be notified of the club’s position on his future. But sources close to the goings-on at CAPS United revealed that Makepekepe had resolved to expel the striker who has also previously run into disciplinary problems with assistant coach Lloyd Chitembwe.

The CAPS United management and the team’s technical department are understood to be worried that if left unchecked, Gwekwerere could be a “bad influence on the other players”.

Meanwhile, CAPS United became the first club to be hauled before the Premier Soccer League’s disciplinary committee this season as they are expected to answer to charges of hooliganism by a section of their fans.

CAPS fans rained missiles on the pitch in the game against Chicken Inn, forcing a premature end to the game. Predatory striker Evans Chikwaikwai and Lineance Mpofu had thrust Chicken Inn into the lead.

The Green Machine had drawn 0-0 against Shabanie at Maglas and their ambitious manager Sean Connor had hoped to get his full set of points at home but his opposite number Adam Ndlovu spoiled the day.

The poor show by their team was hard to swallow for some fans who threw missiles on the field and forced referee Norman Matemera to call off the game. Matemera has since submitted his report to the PSL and the league’s chief executive Kenny Ndebele said they would now summon CAPS United for a hearing.

“We will be summoning CAPS United soon to come for a hearing. The club will face our disciplinary committee and right now I am trying to get in touch with chairperson of the DC so that we set a date for the hearing. We have to find a date when all the members of the committee will be able to do a sitting,” said Ndebele.

Ndebele said the Disciplinary Committee will rely on the report by Matemera while they are also seeking further evidence from the police.

“We will rely on the referee’s report and I am hoping to get a report from the police before the end of this week,” said Ndebele.

Although the hearing is still to be conducted, Chicken Inna are likely to be awarded the match on a scoreline to be determined by the disciplinary committee. On July 17 last year, CAPS United fans also forced the abandonment of their league match against Gunners at Rufaro.

CAPS, then, were charged with causing the abandonment of a Castle Lager Premier League match by throwing missiles on the pitch and exhibiting acts of violence in contravention of the league’s rules and regulation.

A penalty of US$3 500 was slapped on CAPS United after they pleaded guilty to the offence although US$500 was suspended on condition that the club did not commit a similar offence until the end of last season.

But it seems as if CAPS United fans never learnt from their costly protest against then coach Maxwell Takaendesa Jongwe after repeating the hooligan element on Saturday. Ndebele said the PSL would not condone any behaviour that brings the game into disrepute.

“Naturally we expect the clubs to take the leading role in censuring their fans. There is great concern over violent behaviour in football and we want this issue to be dealt with as soon as possible,” he said.

Before the start of the season, CAPS United supporters chairman Abraham Kawaza had implored on his fellow supporters to shun against hooliganism and appealed on them to rally behind new manager Sean Connor.

However, Kawaza’s plea fell on deaf ears as a militant section of the clubs fans spoiled the day at Gwanzura.