CAPS ready for Hre City

Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
CASTLE Lager Premiership soccer giants CAPS United will need to put behind them the difficult week as they prepare for this Sunday’s derby against Harare City without their captain Method Mwanjali who is battling for his freedom at the courts of law.

The 33-year-old defender was arrested at the weekend following a stabbing incident that left a Harare man fighting for his life in hospital. The club, however, has not allowed the off-field events to sidetrack them and yesterday they had a double training session as they look to build on their promising start to the season.

Makepekepe team manager, Shakespeare Chinogwenya, yesterday said they have been talking to their players to keep focused on their upcoming assignments as they have two derbies awaiting them in the coming fixtures. The Green Machine are scheduled to face bitter rivals Dynamos after the match against Harare City.

“We are telling the players not to read much into what is happening elsewhere. The pitch is their office so they should concentrate on playing football.

“The good thing is that the match against Harare City has been moved from Rufaro to the National Sports Stadium. The turf at Rufaro is not a favourite of many players as you know. So it looks everyone is hungry to play. They all want to win,” said Chinogwenya.

Makepekepe were inactive at the weekend as they were not part of the cast in this year’s Independence Cup which featured FC Platinum, Chicken Inn, Highlanders and Dynamos.

The short break was a blessing for the Green Machine who welcome from injury Tafadzwa Rusike and veteran Leonard Tsipa. Makepekepe had a double practise session yesterday as they had a feel of the match venue by training at the giant facility in the afternoon.

Chinogwenya yesterday said the ordeal that Mwanjali and Archieford Gutu are experiencing should serve as a big lesson to the other players.

Mwanjali was yesterday remanded in custody on charges of attempted murder and asked to apply for bail at the High Court while Gutu was freed on bail, charged with malicious injury to property following a fracas that took place in the early hours of last Sunday on their way from a local joint.

“We are giving our players all the support they need but I hope it’s a wake up call to the other guys on how they should spend their time. I hope they will learn something because some of these places are not good for them, especially at the time this incident is said to have taken place.

“Of course, people should have their time out but you have to be discreet. You get to meet different people at some of these places, some of them drunk and others with their own agenda and they may deliberately provoke you because they know who you are.

“If you look at it this way, it’s a fact that people fight every day and worse things happen but now you have to ask why is this case getting all this attention? What’s so peculiar about it? It’s sad but, hopefully, the other players are learning something,” said Chinogwenya.

CAPS United beat Chapungu 3-0 in their first match of the season and then shared the spoils with newboys Ngezi Platinum Stars away in their second outing.

Only two teams are yet to drop points after league champions Chicken Inn and FC Platinum won both their opening matches. Chicken Inn appear to have picked the momentum ahead of anyone else and they will be out to maintain their 100 percent record in a Bulawayo derby with How Mine this Saturday.

The Gamecocks are in high spirits after winning the Independence Cup. They currently sit at the top of the table with six points after they had thrashed former champions Dynamos 3-0 in the opening match and then dismissed newboys Border Strikers 1-0 away.

FC Platinum will host Chapungu in a Midlands derby on Saturday while Highlanders will be the de facto home team when they engage homeless Tsholotsho “away” at Barbourfields on Sunday.

Fixtures

Saturday: Chicken Inn v How Mine (Luveve), ZPC Kariba v Bulawayo City (Nyamhunga), FC Platinum v Chapungu (Mandava)

Sunday: Triangle United v Border Strikers (Gibbo), Tsholotsho v Highlanders (Barbourfields), CAPS United v Harare City (NSS), Mutare City Rovers v Dynamos (Sakubva), Hwange v Ngezi Platinum Stars (Coliery).