By Sikhumbuzo Moyo
Stung by what has hit them, reigning Castle Lager Premier Soccer League champions Caps United say they have put their fate in the hands of God as they struggle to find a winning formula following their good run in the Caf Champions League.
Caps fell to their fifth defeat of the season at the hands of Chicken Inn at Luveve Stadium on Wednesday leaving them firmly rooted in the relegation zone with 14 points from 13 matches.
They fell to two goals inside the first 14 minutes, the opening one a beauty from veteran Obidiah Tarumbwa, who struck a curler with clinical accuracy, before right-back Passmore Bernard added the second moments later.
Despite showing fighting spirit in the second half that saw them pulling one back through Phineas Bamusi five minutes after the break, the Harare side somehow still found themselves losing by a two-goal deficit after Tarumbwa struck again six minutes before fulltime.
Caps now believe only divine intervention can rescue them.
“With God’s grace, we believe we will soon start winning. We just need one win and the puzzle will fall into place. We have to work hard, pray hard and remain united because our name is Caps United,” said assistant coach Fungai ‘Tostao’ Kwashi.
He conceded that the club had set itself high standards by its performance in the Caf Champions League in which it dumped five-time African champions TP Mazembe to reach the lucrative group stages.
In the group stages, Caps handed the mighty Zamalek of Egypt a 3-1 hiding.
“We hit high standards in this year’s Caf Champions League. We are the reigning champions as well, so we have a lot to protect, but we are not going to put ourselves under pressure. What we need is to get back to basics and keep working hard and I am sure we will get back to that winning mode,” said Kwashi.
Caps take on ZPC Kariba at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday.
The club’s chief executive officer Cuthbert Chitima said the executive still had faith in coach Lloyd Chitembwe and also believes the team is just going through a bad patch, which will soon be overcome.
“Chitembwe still has our support and we know we will get it right soon,” said Chitima.
There was uncertainty on Chitembwe’s future after his hand signal to Caps supporters as he walked to the dressing room suggested that he was throwing in the towel.
He did not attend the post-match interview. The Chronicle
