CAPS suffer worst hiding by Dynamos in 12 years

Green Machine been beaten so comprehensively by the Glamour Boys who simply shifted into gear once they had been gifted an opener.
Having competed very well on a difficult surface, CAPS United once again failed to han­dle pressure and, not for the first time, gifted Dynamos a priceless goal as a blunder involv­ing Rahman Kutsanzira and the impressive Asani Nhongo provided the defining moment of the game.

A ruthless DeMbare, as they usually do in such circumstances, made the most of that opportunity with rising star Farai Mupasiri heading home the opener.
Goalkeeper Muzondiwa Gonese should have done better when he came off his line to deal with the cross while defender Blessing Zabula was also found wanting as Mupasiri struck.

CAPS United never recovered and by the end of the game had crashed to their worst humiliation, at the hands of their rivals, in 12 years.
While there was an immediate response after the 0-3 hiding in 2000, with CAPS United thrashing Dynamos 4-2 the following season, it’s difficult to count on this group of players to do that. For once CAPS United had fallen behind, they lost all their fighting spirit and, rather than battle in the second half, they with­drew into a shell.

The Green Machine haven’t beaten Dynamos in a league match since 2009 and on Sunday they effectively surrendered after 45 minutes.
Crucially, it’s not only Dynamos who are beating CAPS United as this was the seventh straight loss for the team, something that is happening for the first time since the Green Machine became a Premiership team, and the ninth game without a win.

Disappointed fans were seen burning the CAPS United flags, after the match, as they failed to bear the pain of this humiliation at the hands of their main rivals.
There are even concerns that Makepekepe could be heading for Division One next season.
However, the club’s senior players yesterday told The Herald they were confident they will get it right and scoffed at suggestions that the Green Machine will be relegated.

Former Warriors’ striker, Shingi Kawondera, who was handed the captaincy by coach Taurai Mangwiro on Sunday as he looked for a leader after indifferent performances by Tapiwa Khumbuyani, said the defeat was a humiliation.
“All I can say is we have to keep on fighting until the end. God will smile on us one day,” said Kawondera.
“We are still trying to swallow the defeat but we have to soldier on.

“We are lost in all departments, sometimes it’s defence, sometimes midfield and sometimes strike force.
“But I don’t think we will get to that level of fighting relegation. If we just manage to score first in one game and manage to defend well, we will be okay.
“We need the fans now more than ever. We really need their support and they have to stand by us.”

The forward is yet to score a goal since joining Makepekepe at the start of the second half of the season.
Veteran striker Evans Gwekwerere was also at a loss of words yester­day but believes they will be able to put the humiliation behind them ahead of yet another tough test this weekend in Mutare against Buf­faloes.

The former Dynamos striker is also yet to score a league goal for his team this season.
“It is a big defeat for us but that’s football. We have to pull our socks and come out of this mess,” said Gwekwerere.
“The luck is just not there. Everything else is okay. CAPS United will not fight relegation and we only need three points to boost our confi­dence.
“We are going to start collecting points this weekend and every game is a cup game for us now. We know that all the teams are coming to play us fully prepared and motivated.

“But from last week we have also been a motivated lot but unfortu­nately we are failing to collect points.”
The former Moroka Swallows and Jomo Cosmos man says the play­ers were also being hurt by their failure to win matches and the club sup­porters should not desert them now.

“To the CAPS United supporters this is the time we need them. They mustn’t be cross when a team is losing like this because we need to be united as a family,” said Gwekwerere.

“The supporters should not give up now because if they do what about us players who train day in day out but go on to lose matches?
“Luck is just not on our side.”
Midfielder, Rahman Kutsanzira, whose loss of form has coincided with the team’s poor run, said everyone was disappointed with the poor show but they will just have to keep on working hard.

“Every one is disappointed and we are not happy. We hope to win against Buffaloes and we will keep on working hard.
“We won’t fight relegation as such but we have to work hard to avoid relegation. I think we just don’t have the luck but we hope to start win­ning soon,” said Kutsanzira.

CAPS United axed Northern Irishman Sean Connor after he lost four straight league matches and his replacement, Mangwiro, has already lost his first three games after defeats against Highlanders and Black Mam­bas.
Crucially, CAPS are yet to score in 270 minutes since Mangwiro took over as coach.

Many CAPS United fans believe that only Norman Mapeza can deliver their team to the Promised Land but while the coach was the first choice for the club’s directors, he remains holed up in his battles against Zifa which have spilled into the High Court.