adminAugustine Hwata Senior Sports Reporter
DURING the 1980s and 1990s, Harare Premiership giants CAPS United were known as the Cup Kings among their fans as they won virtually every knockout trophy on the land, but now their supporters could be wondering how the mighty have fallen.
The Green Machine’s last success in a major cup final was when they won the inaugural edition of the BancAbc Sup8r Cup in 2008 when they beat Lengthens at Rufaro and since then, their trophy cabinet has been gathering dust.
With just one inclusive knock-out competition — the Mbada Diamonds Cup — for all the 16 Castle Lager Premiership sides up for grabs, CAPS United skipper Tapiwa Khumbuyani has challenged his troops to revive the spirit of the old generation of players who donned the green and white shirt.
In 2011, CAPS United were dumped out of the Mbada Diamonds Cup right at the first hurdle when they lost to Dynamos at the National Sports Stadium while the same opponents again floored them in the semi-finals last year.
But for this year, CAPS United appear to have a relatively easy opening round as they play Motor Action at Sakubva on Saturday and rightback Khumbuyani is hoping that they should be aiming for the silverware.
Last week CAPS United’s boat was rocked when their players staged an industrial action and refused to train over outstanding bonuses but sanity has since returned after the club’s management met some of the demands.
With the sponsors Mbada Diamonds meeting all the running costs as well as the players’ appearance fees, players can only blame themselves if they lose the potentially rich pickings.
Every player is guaranteed US$100 in appearance while the winners of the competition pocket US$130 000 and the big trophy.
“We are prepared for the cup game and we are not underrating Motor Action just because they are at the bottom of the log.
“I think we have to treat them with respect because this is a cup game and these types of matches are tricky.
“Motor Action might be at the bottom but they may come good against us. So we need to be alert,” said Khumbuyani.
Khumbuyani is nostalgic about the club’s glory days when they were a real threat in knock-out competitions.
“Back then in the 1980s, the league used to have vibrant knockout cup competitions but now they are very few.
“But we need to give our best in this one and only inclusive knockout cup competition,” said Khumbuyani.
Yesterday, CAPS United went through their passes at Danny Bismarck and should be continuing with their preparations today.
Their match at Sakubva will be like a homecoming show for assistant coach Saul Chaminuka who left Mutare side Buffaloes in June.
“All the players are very focused on the game. For now we are taking each game as it comes and the immediate goal is to progress to the next round.
“However, our ultimate goal will be to win the Mbada Diamonds Cup and I would like to believe that the guys are ready,” said Khumbuyani.
But Motor Action have refused to be intimidated by CAPS United’s rich history in cup competitions with the Mighty Bulls manager Johnson “Schoolboy” Mhungu warning the Green Machine to be wary of an upset.
“Our preparations for the cup competition are okay and these games are different from the league. A team that scores first and defend their lead could be able to win the game,” said Mhungu yesterday.
Mhungu is also taking confidence in that Motor Action once used Sakubva as their home ground.
“The youngsters are excited and we hope they will do well. We are still not yet relegated because there are nine games to go before the end of the season.
“History has shown that other teams have been relegated but they went to Division One with the big trophy,” said Mhungu. After the Mbada Diamonds Cup match, Motor Action will play Chicken Inn at Motor Action Sports Club while CAPS meet Triangle at the National Sports Stadium in a mid-week Premiership clash.
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