CAPS now ‘United’ after strike ends

By Grace Chingoma

CAPS United president Farai Jere revealed yesterday that he turned down a proposal from the club’s board to slash the salaries for his players because he wants them to derive inspiration — from their good incomes — to try and win the championship.

The revelations were made at a meeting between the CAPS United leadership, players and coaching staff in Harare yesterday where the impasse, which had paralysed operations at the Green Machine this week, ended.

Twenty one players, including all the senior players, the entire technical team led by Lloyd Chitembwe, club chairman Lewis Uriri, chief executive Cuthbert Chitima and board member Willard Manyengavana attended yesterday’s meeting.

The Green Machine players did not train on Tuesday and Wednesday as they revolted against their leadership over the delayed payment of their May salaries and the winning bonus for the victory over champions Chicken Inn.

Jere, who was away in Cape Town when the revolt exploded, addressed his players and coaching staff at their training ground yesterday after the salaries and winning bonuses were transferred into the players’ accounts.

The Harare businessman revealed he turned down a proposed salary cut for the players due to the harsh economic climate because he believes they need their current wages to inspire them to glory.

“For your own information, I am to blame for this situation which is happening at CAPS United. The board had requested that we reduce the players’ salaries to about $600 maximum, which is in line with the salaries prevailing in this economy, but I said let’s not demotivate these youngsters,” he said.

“Let’s keep the salaries where they are so that they give us their best, they give us maximum effort and this is why the team is where it is.

“We are talking of a delay and we are talking of one winning bonus which is outstanding against Chicken Inn. Can you call that a crisis which makes people refuse to train, stay away, does that call for an industrial action?”

The businessman said when the cash challenges started he advised his players that there would be delays in the payment of salaries, but ultimately, the club’s leadership would deliver on their commitments.

“I am a businessman and I came here and I spoke to these guys and I told them ‘look the cash situation which is now prevailing in this country for the past months, there is going to be some delays in payment, but the salaries would be coming,’ and the salaries have been coming,” said Jere.

“And to someone who is working, if your boss addresses you like that, there is need to plan your things and the winning bonuses have been coming on time so you can use that to pay your rentals because it is a question of trust knowing that your salary would be coming.

“I am trying to get the answers from them to find out where the problem is and they tell me there is no crisis, but we just wanted to be heard, but did that call for an industrial action?

“I think you will appreciate that some organisations have even gone for a year, or months, without paying salaries, but we have been doing it monthly.”

Jere challenged his players to put this week’s impasse behind them and play for their fans, especially now that their biggest rivals Dynamos have started to pick up some points.

“We are getting all this negative coverage at a time the club has started very well and we have been doing very well and we are only two points from the leaders, can you imagine?” Jere told his players.

“Whenever Dynamos start to play well, you tend to start destroying yourselves, you have been constructing your house well, but now you want to press the self-destruction button.

“I am not moved, I am not affected since 2004 and I have seen worst things. You know when you are dealing with people who can come together and are prepared to talk like this then it’s encouraging.

“As you saw all the players are here, we have been talking and they can’t even tell you the reason why they went on strike.

“Some of these things are caused by players who are not getting game time. They create a problem and it filters down to other players. We are very experienced and we know how to deal with this and the players are back in training and have vowed to win for the fans.”

Jere said the technical team, headed by Chitembwe, would remain intact and assured assistant coach Mark Mathe that he would not be dismissed.

The businessman said whenever the transfer window approaches there is always a lot of speculation with people causing chaos by promising players outrageous packages elsewhere.

Captain Moses Muchenje apologised for their actions.

“I have to apologise and I apologise to them (supporters), we are very sorry about what has been happening, but all is now in place and we are looking forward to our next match,” said Muchenje.

Leonard Tsipa, the most senior player in the team, told the club’s president that the sticking point had been the delay in the payment of the May salaries.

“We are supposed to get paid on the 25th of every month, but the thing is for the past two months we didn’t get our salaries in time,” said Tsipa.

“It is not like we are not getting paid, but the money is not coming on time.

“Most of us here are tenants so we are saying the money should come on time because most landlords are relying on these rentals so the money should come on time because if we fail to pay our rentals we end up being under pressure.

“At times there is a communication breakdown and the people who work under the boss promise us we will be paid on a particular date, but things don’t happen according to plan and we understand because we have a cash crisis prevailing in the country.”

Tsipa confirmed that they were owed winning bonuses for just one game. The Herald