Caps increase bonuses ahead of Bosso battle

Innocent Kurira 

Zimpapers Sports Hub

CAPS United president Farai Jere has increased the winning bonuses for their players and coaches ahead of the Battle of Cities showdown at Barbourfields on Sunday.

The Green Machine are top of the table in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League championship race.They have been a revitalised side under the guidance of former son, Takesure Chiragwi, and they have become the team to beat in the top-flight league.  They arrive in the City of Kings bubbling with confidence as they hold a two-point lead at the top of the table. Normally, Makepekepe players get US$500 for winning a league match.

“We have increased the winning bonus because Highlanders are a very big team, the oldest club in this country and we have to give them the respect they deserve,” said Jere.“It’s a special assignment for us because of the status of our opponents and we have promised our players more, if they win, because we want to make them fight right to the final whistle.

“We respect Highlanders and even before their game against Chicken Inn I told my players, when I addressed them at training on Tuesday, that Bosso were going to win.”

Highlanders coach, Benjani Mwaruwari, says he is hoping his side can build on their midweek breakthrough.Bosso finally got their season up and running with a convincing 3-1 victory over Chicken Inn on Wednesday, It was a result that marked their first win of the campaign and Benjani’s maiden triumph since taking charge.

The win could not have come at a better time for Bosso, who had endured a frustrating start to the season, characterised by a string of draws.

Benjani, a former Warriors captain, had found himself under growing pressure, with questions being raised about his tactical acumen.

However, the emphatic victory over Chicken Inn has, at least for now, quietened the noise around the Bosso camp.  Even so, the Highlanders coach is refusing to get carried away.

“It’s a marathon, and we have to keep the momentum.  We must not get carried away by the win, though. I think it was due for us to get that win. We don’t have to take this win and think we are up there; we have to work and respect every opponent that we face. There are a lot of areas we have to work on.

“CAPS United are playing well, they are leading, and it is going to be a difficult game. “CAPS are a good team and we need to work hard to get the win.”The timing of the fixture adds another layer of intrigue.  Highlanders will be eager to prove that their performance against Chicken Inn was not a one-off, but rather a sign of progress under Mwaruwari.

CAPS United arrive in Bulawayo as one of the in-form teams in the league. The The Harare giants have made a strong start to the season, combining defensive solidity with clinical efficiency in front of goal. Their ability to manage games and capitalise on key moments has been central to their early success.   For CAPS, Sunday’s clash against Highlanders presents an opportunity to assert their credentials against one of their traditional rivals on a difficult away ground. A positive result would not only maintain their momentum but also send a strong message to the rest of the league.