Can CAPS United make it three?

HARARE – CAPS United could move within just three points of early leaders FC Platinum and, crucially in the eyes of their fans, six clear of bitter rivals Dynamos if they beat Buffaloes at Gwanzura this afternoon. 

The Green Machine have won two of their first three games, recovering from a Match Day One loss to Harare City to beat Motor Action and Black Rhinos in their last two league matches.

The good run has coincided with their fans starting to believe that this could be the season that the Green Machine come to life and there has been an increasing number of supporters, coming to watch their matches, in recent weeks.

CAPS United last won the league title in 2005 under Charles Mhlauri and their fans have been waiting for the year that their team ends that lengthy wait.

That it has been their city rivals, Dynamos, who have become the top team in the domestic Premiership, winning back-to-back League and Cup Doubles, has amplified the pain.

Gwanzura is expected to be full to capacity this afternoon as CAPS United host Buffaloes with optimism high in their camp that they will make it three wins in four matches.

Caretaker coach, Brenna Msiska, says his focus is just to build a competitive team, which will represent the interests of the Green Machine with honour and distinction, and anything else will be a bonus.

But Msiska must have been charmed by the way his boys have responded to his call for them to perform and he expects them to remain focussed.

Midfielder, Hardlife Zvirekwi, scored twice, from the penalty spot, for the 2-1 victory over Rhinos and a lot will be expected from him this afternoon.

Big forward, Tawanda Nyamandwe, was unplayable against Motor Action and Msiska needs him to continue firing because it is goals, at the end of the day, which make the difference.

Leonard Fiyado is struggling for form and has looked a shadow of the tricky player who scored some crucial goals towards the end of last season.

If there is a concern for the Green Machine, then it has to be the way they have been losing steam in the second half as they have struggled after the break in all their matches.

Msiska has always insisted that his team would not have lost the league match against Harare City if their preparations had not been disturbed by boardroom issues.

The gaffer was forced to remove George Magariro and Tendai Samanja from the starting XI, when the players were warming up, as confusion reigned amid instructions from the PSL offices that the players who had not fully paid their Asiagate fines were not eligible to play.

However, another instruction came, during the course of the first half, that they could be fielded and Samanja, who has been one of the team’s best players, was used as a second half substitute.

The Green Machine have become bullish in their run after posting wins over the Mighty Bulls and Rhinos in their last two matches while Buffaloes are on a high following their 4-2 win over Hwange. Even their fans have jammed the social media sites to demonstrate their newly-found confidence.

“This is our year. A year of results. A year of restoration. Rise Makepekepe Rise!!!!!,” reads a post on one of the pages dedicated to the Green Machine on Facebook.

“Last week we entered into the Third Round of PSL games and our success rate is about 67%. Catching the eye is the sponsorless shirts the team is wearing at the moment.

“Agreed we are cornered and there is something that is making us unattractive in the world of big businesses as far as attracting sponsorship is concerned.

“Way forward is for us to repair our damaged image until we become the most sought after brand. It’s given the brand has a huge following and who ever gets us is surely guaranteed to get the much sought miliage.

“What do we do in the meantime? Let’s play and win our games, slowly but surely people will talk about us, more and more people will attend our matches and the club coffers will be boosted.”

The fans have also been rallying themselves to attend the club’s matches in their thousands.

“This is where those with team at heart will play their part. Take note that our home matches are our only source of income as it stands without the much needed sponsorship,” said one post on Facebook.

“By attending our home matches in our large numbers we are directly making it possible for Takudzwa, Ronald, Steve Makatuka and the rest of the team members to put food on their table.

“I know there are sections of the team that do not pay for entrance into our home matches as part of their benefits, how sweet will it be for now, to lead by example and forgo the previledge just to boost our club coffers and make it possible for the playing staff and their managers to get their wages in time so that they concentrate on playing football only.

“It is during these times when strong team spirit and bonding is built. Such foundations of being in the trenches together, seeing it as it happens, being there for one another, with a selfless management that remembers that the cake is small and needs to be shared so that every team member gets a bit, usually such stories have a happy ending.”

Across town, police side Black Mambas are enjoying a good start to the season and face Monomotapa. Mambas’ team manager, Teddy Zhou, has attributed their good take-off to cohesion in the team.

Over the past two years, Black Mambas have been fighting relegation until the last match of the season but this time Zhou believes they will aim for a top eight-finish.

“Basically we have kept intact the whole team that we used last season. The guys are now acquainted with each other and there is good cohesion,” said Zhou.

Zhou said they brought in Nhlanhla Ncube from relegated Hardbody as a direct replacement to the long serving Sebastian Mutizirwa who has now retired.

“We never lost any key players during the off-season expect Mutizirwa who is no focusing on coaching the juniors,” said Zhou.

Zhou vowed that Warumwa Warumwa still have the venom to upset Monomotopa when the two sides clash this afternoon at Rufaro .