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THIS is the CAPS United we know – real fighters and a very competitive team. The Green MAchine ended a seven-year jinx against FC Platinum by delivering a powerful blow that prevented the visitors from going back to the summit of the Castle Lager Premiership table at Rufaro yesterday.
Striker William Manondo scored his 10th goal of the season to help Makepekepe get their revenge as well as erase their struggles in the league marathon. It was even sweeter for Manondo as the striker reached double figures with the 37th minute header, which steered him clear of his competitors in the Golden Boot race.
But, collectively, this was a big win for Makepekepe who had not beaten FC Platinum since 2017. Coach Lloyd Chitembwe also felt the win could help them turn around the campaign as the Green Machine recovered from a bad patch characterised by a poor run of five games without winning, prior to yesterday’s game.
“In my honest opinion it was a difficult game,” he said. “The win was very important. It cannot be bigger than this. It’s a very good result.”
The platinum miners coach Norman Mapeza was also not entirely convinced by the circumstances leading to CAPS United’s goal. He felt a foul was committed as Manondo raced for goal after winning a physical contest with defender Rainsome Pavari.
“I think we started the game very well. But we missed quite a few opportunities, and I think CAPS United also got their chances as well and they got that goal. But if you don’t have video evidence sometimes it’s difficult, because I understand Pavari was tripped. If you look at the situation, he was two-three metres ahead of Manondo, so how can he just fall all of a sudden?”
FC Platinum are now second in the race with 42 points, one behind surprise packages Simba Bhora, who beat Yadah 1-0 on Saturday.
CAPS United yesterday introduced their new Cameroonian signing Manuel Joseph Mbollo but the forward was kept under lock and key by the visitors defence until he was substituted in the 58th minute. (H-Metro)
Online Reporter