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MARK Mathe believes he is ready to step into the shoes of Mark Harrison in his new role as CAPS United head coach and will today lead the side when they tour Mozambique for a friendly match against Chingale de Tete.
Makepekepe are looking to fine-tune their team ahead of the resumption of the league games next week.
The teams will clash tomorrow afternoon at the Estadio de Chingale.
Club spokesperson Joyce Kapota said they were excited by the opportunity to engage the Mozambicans.
“This is part of our mid-season preparations and we are happy the team will be involved in some form of action. We have good relations with Chingale, remember they came here some time ago and we played a friendly game.
“This is a good opportunity as well for our new coach to have a closer look at the boys and we urge our supporters to travel.
“Tete province is only about 150km from Nyamapanda Border post and already we have a group that has indicated they will be going with the team,” said Kapota.
The Green Machine are hoping to benefit from the friendly ahead of the resumption of the league programme next week.
Makepekepe are currently seventh on the log standings with 20 points, nine behind leaders Chicken Inn.
They will face Harare City in their next game before engaging in back-to-back fixtures with leaders Chicken Inn.
Mathe was elevated this week following the shock resignation of British expatriate Harrison who has since moved to Botswana’s Township Rollers.
The former Highlanders coach said he was looking forward to a positive run with the Green Machine to the end of the season.
“You don’t need a rocket scientist to tell you that coaching one of the biggest clubs in Zimbabwe comes with pressure. There is pressure, there are huge expectations.
“CAPS United has got a very rich history and there are fans out there who want to see that legacy being upheld.
“It comes with pressure but we are up for it as technical and players,” he said.
Mathe said the three-week break has been helpful to his team.
“The break has been helpful in many ways, most critically the recovery of injured players. It has given time for those players carrying knocks to be attended to and recover.
“We had also given the players a break after the Flame Lily game. So it was a welcome relief. Now we have resumed and we are preparing for our next league game against Harare City.
“Let me say the games that we have played, those we won and those we drew, we have been playing very well, generally.
“Cohesion is coming up but the biggest challenge that we have been having is conversion of the high rate of chances that we created in each game,” said Mathe.
Online Reporter