CAPS eye another fiver

Shabanie Mine in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Rufaro this afternoon.
The Green Machine, with 10 goals already in the bag from their first two matches of the season, will have to contend with the pressure that comes with coming under the spotlight following their flying start in the race.
The Harare giants, who have been going about their business quietly in the off-season, have suddenly become the side to beat after their 5-3 and 5-2 thumping of Zimbabwe Saints and Shooting Stars.
While CAPS have been enjoying a purple patch, the story has been different with Shabanie who lost both matches, leading to the sacking of coach Saul Chaminuka and the entire executive during the midweek.
The Zvishavane side are still trying to recover from the trauma, which was precipitated by two straight defeats beginning by the 3-0 loss to Highlanders in their opening match of the season and the slump 2-0 humbling by Chicken Inn at their once fearsome Maglas home ground last week.
Former player Arnold Jani has the unenviable task to turn around the fortunes of the club against his mentor Chunga.
But Shabanie have to fight heavy odds as records show that CAPS have won two out of two while they have lost two out of two.
CAPS have scored 10 and Shabanie nil.
CAPS have conceded five and Shabanie five, which leaves Makepekepe with a difference of plus five, while Shabanie are five to the negative.
But the big question on many football fans’ lips today is, “Can the Green Machine achieve another goal harvest?”
Coach Moses “Bambo” Chunga believes they can, but he also warned that supporters should not put an extra weight on his charges by expecting too much in a short period, after criticism on the performance of his defence.
He said Makepekepe have a bigger mission this year and are hoping to remain focused in the league marathon.
Chunga, who is no stranger to Shabanie, his former paymasters, said CAPS needed to guard against complacency.
“What happened to CAPS or Shabanie in previous games is now history. This is a new game and we are approaching it with a fresh mind.
“We started off well this season and probably the big thing that we have to fight at the moment is complacency, said Chunga.
The trio of Simba Sithole (four goals in two games), Evans Gwekwerere and Washington Pakamisa have been in good form up front but the performance of CAPS’ defence has been an area of concern, with the coach trying different combinations but with little success.
His options have also been limited with the injury to Ndumiso Khanye while Gilbert Mapemba is still to gain full fitness.
But they seem to have found some stability at the heart of defence with the arrival of Luckmore Simango who appeared at home partnering Nyasha Mukumbi last week while Douglas Walaza and Arnold Chiveya operated from the wings.
“The team is coming up well and it’s increasingly becoming difficult to come up with the first 11 because we have a big pool of equally good players.
“In my opinion everyone deserves his chance to play.
“We have been working on all aspects of our game and people and hopefully things will work out properly for us.
“There has been talk of a porous defence but statistics show that we have a goal difference of plus five in two games, which is not bad.
“There is no justification for such criticism because we have a healthy difference. We just want to continue with the good form and score as many as we can. We have been working on our defence and we do not want to give anything away cheaply,” said Chunga.
But the match of the week will pit defending champions Motor Action who renew their rivalry with last year’s runners up Dynamos at Rufaro tomorrow.
DeMbare would want to do well on the domestic competition after suffering their biggest disappointment in the Champions League competition in Algeria last week.
DeMbare are coming from a heartbreaking 3-0 defeat to Algerian side MC Alger, albeit in controversial circumstances, which eliminated them from the African safari last week.
Pressure is simmering in their camp following the defeat to Kiglon in their opening match two weeks ago.
Coach Lloyd Mutasa has said that DeMbare cannot afford to lose three games on the trot, which sets the stage for a gruelling battle tomorrow.
Premiership returnees Zimbabwe Saints will be in town for a date against winless police side Black Mambas at Morris Depot.
Saints are looking for their second victory of the season following the morale-boosting 1-0 win over Kiglon at Luveve last week.
“Chauya Chikwata” coach Willard Khumalo yesterday said his charges are focused on the challenge and will be looking forward to maximum points.
“Every game is important to us and we make sure we are prepared as much as we can. We are coming up now and we are hoping to collect points from this match, as we would in any other game,” said Khumalo.
With the exception of defender Tafadzwa Maingire, who picked up a knock last week, Saints have a clean bill.
But after losing their first two games away, Mambas coach John Ncube wants his side to start collecting points, despite the absence of key players Sebastian Mutizirwa, Conveni-ence Hungwe and Tendai Chinungo who have been sidelined by injury in the new season.
Mambas are hoping to vent their fury on Saints following losses to Motor Action and Blue Ribbon.
“It’s unfortunate the first two games but this will be our first time to play at home. We are taking this match seriously and must make sure that we start collecting points,” said Ncube.
Fixtures
Today – Black Mambas v Zimbabwe Saints (Morris Depot), Shooting Stars v Blue Ribbon (Gwanzura), CAPS United v Shabanie Mine (Rufaro), Chicken Inn v Gunners (Luveve), FC Platinum v Monomotapa (Maglas)
Tomorrow – Motor Action v Dynamos (Rufaro), Highlanders v Masvingo United (Barbourfields), Kiglon v Hwange (Gwanzura).