Chronicle Editor
Eddie Chikamhi, Harare Bureau
GIANTS Caps United reckon their days of misery are nearing an end after recovering from a spate of injuries that ravaged their camp in the last two months.
Since the resumption of the league matches from a default month-long break in July, Makepekepe have experienced a difficult run.
The Green Machine are travelling to Gweru this Sunday to play host to Black Rhinos at their adopted Bata Stadium home ground, with coach Lloyd Chitembwe hoping to welcome more players from the casualty ward for this crucial stretch in the 2023 campaign.
Makepekepe last week welcomed back goalkeeper and captain Tonderai Mateyaunga after spending weeks on the sidelines with a knock.
Mateyaunga returned to the starting line-up in the goalless draw against ZPC Kariba at Nyamhunga, as the 2016 league champions snapped a three-match losing run.
Defender Lincoln Mangaira was also part of the starting team, having returned from a knock the previous week; with Makepekepe recording as many as eight injuries to key personnel during the period.
Players, who include utility man Kelvin Madzongwe, Phineas Bamusi, Ian Nyoni, Ben Musaka and Innocent Zambezi, are still undergoing rehabilitation for varying knocks.
However, Chitembwe yesterday gave a positive report on the progress made by the affected players.
“Most of these guys are now doing light training,” he said.
“So, we should have a clearer picture of the whole situation by Thursday (today). That’s probably when decisions will be made, as we get closer to the match day,” said Chitembwe.
The Green Machine are desperate to turn things around both in the dressing room and on the field of play.
They have also missed players like Adrian Silla and Joel Ngodzo.
In fact, the last two months have been particularly depressing for the giants, who at some point at the beginning of the marathon sat on top of the log standings for some weeks after going six matches unbeaten.
But the recent run of results has not been encouraging for the team and its multitude of fans. Makepekepe have only won once in eight games, since the resumption of the league games in early July.
Matches were suspended in June following the closure of National Sports Stadium, which was home to Harare clubs including Caps United.
Makepekepe have since adopted Bata Stadium in Gweru for their home games. Since the resumption, they lost five games, with defeats to Highlanders, Bulawayo Chiefs, Herentals, Manica Diamonds and Ngezi Platinum inflicting a huge blow to their campaign.
The 2-0 win over new boys Green Fuel was the only cheer they got in these last two months, during which they also drew with Triangle and most recently ZPC Kariba.
Chitembwe felt the goalless draw at Nyamhunga and the recovery of some of their key players could signal a turnaround of the results.
“Considering the situation that we have been in I’m sure it’s quite a decent result. We have gone through a lot in the last two weeks. Almost eight players are out injured,” he said in his post-match interview in Kariba.
Chitembwe was also encouraged by the way some of the new players (like Eric Manokore and Courage Sithole who were signed during the mid-season window) have adjusted during the crisis.
“We have tried to come up with a team and I’m very happy with way the guys responded because some of them have just played their first games of the season.
“So I’m impressed from that viewpoint but there is always more that we look forward to. CAPS United is just not an ordinary football club.
“Nothing less than a very good result, and when I talk of a good result it’s obviously a win, and nothing short of that is acceptable,” said Chitembwe.
Winless in the last five games, Makepekepe are sitting ninth on the log standings with 25 points from 20 games.
Fixtures
Saturday: Bulawayo Chiefs v FC Platinum (Luveve), Sheasham v Hwange (Bata), Simba Bhora v Yadah Stars (Baobab), Cranborne Bullets v Dynamos (Nyamhunga), Herentals v Ngezi Platinum Stars (Mandava), Manica Diamonds Green Fuel (Gibbo)
Sunday: Highlanders v Chicken Inn (Barbourfields Stadium), Triangle United v ZPC Kariba (Gibbo), Caps United Black Rhinos (Bata)
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