Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi-Zimpapers Sports Hub
AFTER getting off his tenure with identical draws in his first two games, CAPS United coach Ian Bakala can only imagine what could be in store for his team tomorrow as the Green Machine host in-form defending champions Simba Bhora at Rufaro.
The Zambian coach, who was thrust onto the hot seat two weeks ago to replace former CAPS United teammate Lloyd Chitembwe, is increasingly getting anxious for a win, which he believes could be key to turning the side’s faltering campaign.
There have been notable changes in the way Makepekepe have been playing since Bakala’s arrival, but obtaining maximum points has been elusive.
“I think at the moment, what is remaining is just winning, which is what we are working on,” he said.
“For us, I think it’s very important this coming game to win, to have maximum points. And we are mentoring the players, we need to be scoring more goals.”
They played identical 1-1 draws with Herentals and Dynamos, with Bakala in charge.
“I think we have forgotten about the draws. We have to be focused on the coming game. For me, the game against Dynamos was easy.
“The game we are playing is tougher than the game we played against Dynamos. But again, it has to come to us, the way we are working in training, for the preparation for the upcoming game.
“There’s much improvement from the past week, which is good for us. And even the attitude of the players, I think their reaction is getting up well,” said Bakala.
But the Zambian mentor will be keen to see his team improve in front of goal as Makepekepe have not been scoring as much as he would have liked to see.
“We’ve only been scoring once in each game, but I think we have to improve again on scoring. For us to win the games, we have to score goals; more than scoring just one goal.
“But looking at the players and how they are performing in training, they will give us something good this coming game,” said Bakala.
But Simba Bhora have never been easy opponents against CAPS United. The Shamva side collected six points from the Green Machine on their way to their maiden title last season.
They arrive in high spirits tomorrow, riding on the back of a 4-0 thrashing of Triangle in their last league match.
“I think the team we are playing with, I heard they are playing good football,” said Bakala.
“But we just have to plan first on ourselves. We plan, then it’s going to be easy for us.
“How I’m seeing the team, the attitude, the discipline is coming up well, which is good for the team. A lot of things will change, but one step at a time, which I think we are seeing from the players themselves.
“Those players who are not playing, they are pushing in training, which is giving us a positive thing coming to the game against Simba Bhora,” said Bakala.
While the Zambian coach is concerned by the need to lift CAPS United from 14th position and move away from relegation, his opposite number Joel Luphahla is fighting on the top end of the table to help the Shamva side retain the championship.
Simba Bhora are third on the log standings with 22 points, four behind surprise log leaders MWOS who travel to GreenFuel this afternoon.
Luphahla was a bit worried ahead of the trip to Rufaro, where his team has lost all three games this season, after going down twice to Dynamos (league and Castle Cup Challenge) and once to Scottland.
“I think we have the toughest of the games there, but these games have to be played and we are going back to Rufaro. It’s the fourth time now, and we hope that it’s going to be a fourth time lucky, because we’ve lost three games that we’ve played and it’s disappointing.
“But we’ve spoken to these players, we’ve tried to make them not think about that. We’re going there for three points,” said Luphahla.
Fixtures
Today: Kwekwe Utd v TelOne (Bata), GreenFuel v MWOS (GreenFuel Arena), Ngezi Platinum Stars v Dynamos (Baobab), Bikita Minerals v ZPC Kariba (Gibbo), Yadah v FC Platinum (Heart Stadium)
Tomorrow: Triangle v Manica Diamonds (Gibbo), CAPS Utd v Simba Bhora (Rufaro), Highlanders v Herentals (Barbourfields)
