Andrew
Don Makanyanga
Sports Reporter
DESPITE enduring a difficult start to the 2021/2022 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season, giants CAPS United are confident they will end their poor run when they host Ngezi Platinum Stars at the National Sports Stadium tomorrow.
CAPS United are still to register a win three matches into the season.
All their games also ended in draws.
It is not the kind of start that their demanding fans would have been expecting.
However, it has not been so rosy at the green half of the capital amid constant player strikes over unpaid bonuses.
Their coach Lloyd Chitembwe, who re-joined the club in November, told The Sunday Mail Sport yesterday that he is not worried with his team’s current form.
“We are building a team and for someone who understands football better, he will tell you that drawing in a rebuilding exercise in not a bad thing, and also these are early days.
“So we are not worried much about the results we have got,” said Chitembwe.
The former Warriors assistant coach said he was happy with the team’s overall performance.
“It is the objective of every coach to win games, and I am not an exception, neither is CAPS United an exception. We prepare to win games but it is just unfortunate that the results we desire have not been coming our way.
“But again, I am happy with the progress of the rebuilding exercise.
“We are building a team that will be competitive this season.”
Chitembwe also praised Ngezi, who he described as a faultless side that will not make life easy for them tomorrow.
“Ngezi Platinum Stars is a faultless team.
“This is a club that is run professionally, a club that has got the best in terms of human resources, a club that has some of the best players in the land.
“Playing such teams won’t be any easy game for us or any other club, but, at the end of the day, we as coaches go into matches with an objective, and that is what we will be seeking against Ngezi Platinum Stars or any other team.”
CAPS United and Ngezi Platinum Stars have met eight times in the Premiership and the miners dominate the statistics having won four games against the Green Machine’s two victories.
The other games ended in stalemate.
The hosts could draw some confidence from the fact that Ngezi Platinum Stars are yet to beat CAPS at the National Sports Stadium.
Ngezi captain Qadr Amini, however, feels that past results will not count much when the two sides resume their rivalry.
“CAPS United are not easy opponents for us, but we are not reading much into what has happened between us and them at the National Sports Stadium in the past.
“We are looking forward to carry on from where we left before the season took a break.
“Our eyes are on the league, hence we have to get maximum points in all the matches if we are to entertain any hopes of winning, and this game is part of the matches that we would want to win,” said Amini.
Star midfielder Denver Mukamba, who played for CAPS United under Chitembwe, Bruno Mtigo, newboy Last Jesi and Amini are expected to carry the day for Ngezi.
Veteran midfielder Devon Chafa will also come under the spotlight as he plays against Ngezi for the first time since leaving the Mhondoro side during the transfer window.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter