CAPS bounce back

Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter—
CAPS United .(1) 3
Shabanie Mine .. 0CAPS United’s Malawian import Gerald Phiri was over the moon yesterday after finally breaking his goal duck and immediately promised the Green Machine supporters to expect more from him following their crashing win over Shabanie Mine at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.

After a turbulent fortnight characterised by the big 3-0 defeat by Chapungu at Ascot and a strike over outstanding salaries and bonuses by their players, CAPS united showed that sanity had returned to their house as they overcame a Shabanie outfit that has been dogged by serious financial challenges.

Although club president Twine Phiri and all but one of their board members — Modercai Sachikonye — were conspicuous by their absence at the National Sports Stadium, CAPS United did enough to keep their winning streak at the giant facility intact.

But it was the lanky Phiri, who was on cloud nine after scoring his first goal since his arrival in Zimbabwe last year.
Phiri sealed the game in added time after former Shabanie Mine striker Pervington Zimunya and left-back Ronald Pfumbidzai, had put caps united in the driving seat with goals either side of half-time as the Green Machine rallied back from last week’s disappointing showing against Chapungu.

The youthful winger slotted home the rebound after Shabanie Mine goalkeeper Victor Twaliki appeared to have done enough to deny Dominic Chungwa after a smooth counter attack.

Phiri has been enjoying his game since last year, when he came to join the former Zimbabwe champions mid-season and said yesterday he felt his efforts needed to be complimented by goals.

“It feels great. It’s been a long time since last year. I have been scoring at training but in games the goals haven’t been coming. So all I can do is to thank God for that goal.

“My coach has been encouraging me game by game. He has kept assuring me that one day the goal will come and I am happy today (yesterday) I managed to do it. I just hope to continue with the scoring form,” said Phiri.

Despite a poor away record, Makepekepe continued with their fine run at the giant stadium where they have won all their four matches this season.
The win lifted them two places up the ladder as they leap-frogged Shabanie Mine and Chapungu into sixth position on the log standings.

The Harare giants looked the better team yesterday and could have won by a bigger margin had their strikers been more precise in front of goal.
CAPS United, who were coming from a 3-0 massacre at Chapungu, were bubblier yesterday and had many scoring opportunities to completely wipe off the nightmare in Gweru.

Twin forwards Leonard Fiyado and Chungwa could at least have put their names on the score sheet but they took turns to miss the target, while Shabanie Mine did not do enough to trouble the hosts in their half after conceding an early goal.

Zimunya inflicted pain on his former team when he opened the scoring with a superb curling strike 13 minutes into the game after controlling the ball well on the edge of the box and finishing off a nice build-up by the hosts.

This was his first goal for Makepekepe this season and he nearly doubled the lead from almost the same position when he let off a dipping shot which forced a good save from the goalkeeper Twaliki in the 35th minute.

The veteran Shabanie Mine goalminder, who was coming back from a nasty injury he suffered in their match against Dynamos last month, then conceded a needless penalty with a reckless tackle on substitute Godknows Mangani. Mangani had only spent two minutes on the pitch when he was brought down by Twaliki.
Fullback Pfumbidzai stepped up to send the goalkeeper the wrong way for CAPS United’s second goal on the afternoon.

Phiri, who has come in with some vital assists then killed off the game three minutes into the referee’s optional time to spark wild celebrations from the small band of the home team’s supporters. The Malawian said he is looking forward to a brighter season

“There is still a long season ahead and all I want to ask for from our fans is patience. I am sure we will deliver at the end of the year if we keep focused as one family.
“Our away record has not been good but I believe it takes one game to break the jinx. It starts with that one game, we might not know when that will be but we are asking our supporters to come along with us for our next game and hopefully things will work out in that match,” said Phiri.

Shabanie Mine coach John Phiri said his players played poorly. The asbestos miners, who have been experiencing financial difficulties, have not won in their last three games and dropped one place to seventh on the log standings with 15 points.

“Our play was very poor today. We were out of form and it was disappointing,” said Phiri.

Teams:
CAPS United: J. Muchambo, T. Khumbuyani, R. Pfumbidzai, D. Chipala, S. Makatuka, T. Samanja, M. Muchenje (D. Mukandi, 87th minute), G. Phiri, P. Zimunya (G. Mangani, 70th minute), L. Fiyado (H. Zvirekwi, 59th minute), D. Chungwa
Shabanie Mine: V. Twaliki, G. Murwira, N. Merson, S. Muchabaiwa, Z. Makonese, H. Mavundi, Z. Bizerk (W. Ngonya, 67th minute), D. Chakupe, H. Musumbuko (X. Ncube, 57th minute), A. Mukwenya (C. Mesi 76th minute), A. TavarwisaEddie Chikamhi.