dyton mupawaenda
Curtworth Masango
IT never rains, but pours for CAPS United.
Bikita Minerals piled more misery on struggling CAPS United with a 1-0 win in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Rufaro yesterday.
Innocent Masiwa goal in the referee’s optional time shaped the script.
In the process, CAPS United have continued to stretch the record – the worst start to a season in over two decades.
But their fans patience can’t be stretched anymore.
CAPS United assistant coach Tonderai Marume said the outburst from fans is expected as long as results are not coming.
“Our boys gave it all and tried to penetrate dominating play, but it is the end product that is failing to come,” said Marume.
The fans called on coach Lloyd Chitembwe to throw in the towel, or for club president Farai Jere to fire him, whichever comes first.
But none of them responded to the fans immediately yesterday.
“It’s expected to see the anger from the fans, the same feeling they have is expected, I would likely feel the same if I was in their position or I would have done more.
“When they come here, they expect their team to win and that’s all. I respect their feelings and nothing wrong with reacting,” Marume added.
Going into the encounter, both teams had a poor start with a point separating them, but Bikita found a gold mine for themselves.
Club president Farai Jere recently came out in support of the coach, saying he needed more time and it was still early days.
It maybe early days, but history will show that since the turn of the millennium, no team have been able to recover from four points in seven games and go on to win the title.
Monomotapa, the 2008 champions, made a remarkable recovery after a poor start, but fact is, at this point they were five points better than CAPS.
Marume said the club have to stand together and not point out on individuals if they are to turn around their grave situation.
“But the only situation is for us to go out there and win matches and nothing else because of you try to witch-hunt for anything, you will be divided.
“We have to put our heads together and find a solution which is to score more goals than our opponents, get maximum points and get away from the position we are in,” said Marume.
Bikita Minerals head coach Wilson Mutekede, a man who knows CAPS United well, was a happy man.
“It was a close game. We played an opponent (whose) strength we know,” he said.
“Our weapon was to try and contain pressure and catch them on the break. Caps United have a lot of talent in the midfield and if you give them room to play, they will kill you. You have to reduce their time on the ball. It was a good contest to get three points away from home and I am happy,” said Mutekede.
Bikita Minerals are now on eight points after yesterday’s win while CAPS United remain rooted on four points and now tied with Triangle.
Online Reporter