Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ERIC “CANTONA” MANOKORE is the most unpopular name at CAPS United right now.
He has been quiet for a long time.
The versatile player was stripped of the captaincy early in the season for failing to properly guide the team when they lost 1-2 to Ngezi Platinum Stars.
He was made the fall guy when the Mhondoro outfit hit the Harare giants towards the end through an arrowed Ashwin Karengesha strike that settled the fixture.
The Green Machine were still under the tutelage of Lloyd Chitembwe.
A month later, under new coach Ian Bakala, Manokore was also the fall guy, missing a late penalty that could have earned CAPS United a point in their 1-2 loss to leaders MWOS at Ngoni.
It was not only about the miss. It was the manner in which he missed it that made the CAPS United hierarchy and fans alike angry.
Manokore chose the base of the ball as if he was taking a goal-kick and the ball, as expected from that execution technique, went over.
And when the club transfer-listed the quartet of Crylodge Denhere, Rouen Tshihumba, Emmanuel Joseph and Rodwell Chinyengetere, he had been rumoured to have been part of the list.
But he has been spared the axe especially after apologising for that penalty miss against MWOS.
CAPS United chief executive officer Morton Dodzo yesterday dismissed social media claims that they had sent Manokore packing.
“Eric Cantona, as opposed to the social media list being circulated, is not part of those who have been transfer-listed.
“The coach has him in his plans and certainly he is still part of the club.
“The four players that we transfer-listed are Joseph Emmanuel, Crylodge Denhere, Rouen Tshihumba and Rodwell Chinyengetere.
“We still have contracts with all these players. Only Chinyengetere has been taken up by GreenFuel so far.
“The others are still to find new homes and we will see what comes up during the remainder of the transfer window.
“But Manokore is not part of that list. He is still ours.”
Manokore, whose contract with Makepekepe runs out in December this year, was contacted by at least five teams after his name was attached to the social media list for those in the departure lounge.
“It’s quite interesting,” said Dodzo.
“We received a lot of inquiries on Manokore due to that false list circulating.
“We received at least five calls from different teams and several agents.
“That means he is a good player. But unfortunately, he will not be leaving because the coach told us that he still needs him around.” CAPS United, still basking from their famous 1-0 win over Scottland over the weekend, will host in-form Triangle at Rufaro on Sunday.
