Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THIS was the CAPS United their fans have been looking for, their coach has been searching for and which their opponents feared at the start of the season.
The Green Machine aren’t really back in the hunt for the league championship but there is no denying that optimism has found its way back into the team.
The impressive 2-0 win over Manica Diamonds at Sakubva on Saturday ended a lengthy run without a win.
Since taking over the helm at the start of this year, Takesure Chiragwi has seen it all, including being booed by disappointed fans following a goalless draw against Ngezi Platinum Stars at Rufaro.
And at Sakubva, Chiragwi took the lead in saluting the very fans who had turned against him just a week ago.
Granted, Manica Diamonds are struggling to keep their own heads above water, but picking three points against them isn’t lesser.
Chiragwi believes the freshening-up he did during the current half-season transfer window has given his team a new dimension.
Veteran goalkeeper Washington Arubi, brought to plug the holes which Wallace Magalane had created between the posts before his unceremonious ouster, has brought the solidity needed in that number 1 position.
The Warriors goalie kept his second clean sheet in three games against Manica Diamonds on Saturday, a week after he had kept it tight against Ngezi Platinum Stars.
But it was against the Mutare team that he really got to show the stuff he is made up of after producing a string of good saves as Manica Diamonds, desperate to ease their own concerns down the table, threw everything at him.
Another of the midseason editions, Chris Mugalu scored his second goal in three outings, clipping a rebound to give Makepekepe the insurance goal in the second half after Chawanangwa Kaonga had given them the lead in the opening phase.
The initial shot had been taken by yet another new broom Uchizi Vunga moments after his introduction from the bench.
“I think the new guys are really giving us the balance that we have been lacking before,” said Chiragwi.
“It always feels good to win games like what we have done against Manica Diamonds.
“You know football is about margins. We haven’t been completing that full step in our games.
“We haven’t been lucky in some instances but the bottom line is that we haven’t been good enough.
“It’s been a long battle to restore confidence in my boys. “You know we have gone through a lot over the past 10, 11 games where wins have been eluding us.”
He added:
“I have a feeling that things can get back to normal and we can start flying again.
“Of course, it’s a process and we will continue talking up the boys at training and ensure that they begin to see things positively.
“From the way things have been unfolding, I think there has been a lot of positivity in all departments.
“In the last three games, we have picked five points and scored five goals.
“We hope to continue on that trajectory and see how everything goes.
“Wins always give you the confidence and what we have to do now is take the momentum into our next fixture and see how things go.”
Chiragwi isn’t confused with the bitter-sweet relationship he is currently having with the fans.
“My duty is to make them happy, the boys’ duty is also to make them happy.
“There is no way we can run away from that. We know we haven’t been doing well and naturally the fans get disappointed.
“We salute them for their loyalty and that’s why you always see us trying to engage with them after matches. It feels good to see them happy and we will try to always do that.”
Makepekepe will attempt to win a second consecutive match when they host FC Hunters in a midweek fixture at Rufaro on Thursday.
Mathew Masinge