Andrew
Langton Nyakwenda
Sports Reporter
ALTHOUGH strange and unforeseen, CAPS United and Whawha find themselves in the same WhatsApp group, if one is to use popular street lingo.
The similarities between the two clubs do not end with financial woes, but the beleaguered sides are also yet to win a match in the current Castle Lager Premier Soccer League marathon.
While United’s bosses are running around to source funds to clear a salary backlog, players at bottom-placed Whawha are literary playing for peanuts.
Some Whawha players are reportedly earning less than $10 000, with most of them now only playing to gain Premiership exposure.
Because of their small purse, the Midlands-based side could only settle for some unheralded players during the January window.
They signed mostly free-agents, most of whom are below par, but are desperate for a dance with the elite league.
Whawha’s best player before the Christmas break, defender Nyasha Gurende, left for Bulawayo City.
Inevitably, Whawha have put up less than convincing shows that have left them anchoring the log after five rounds of action. They have two points out of a possible 15 and have so far conceded 14 goals — the worst record in the season so far.
A Whawha player who spoke on condition of anonymity said: “Some of us are here to play Premiership football, that’s all. We know the club is not paying well, in fact, the kind of money we are earning is a joke but we want to build careers here,” he said.
Whawha coach Luke Petros has of late been mourning about the lack of quality in his squad and with the transfer window almost closing, it appears a repeat of the 2015 season is loading for the Gweru side.
They made their Premiership debut in 2015 and were relegated at the end of that season, after conceding 51 goals, which was the league’s worst defensive record during that term.
“Inexperience is becoming a challenge to us, hence the results we are getting,” Petros told the media after last weekend’s 0-3 loss against Herentals at Ascot.
“We need to go to the market and look for players and keep working hard, but we have financial challenges so we might be forced to go for those who come on their own.”
It is clear that the former Warriors striker, Petros is caught between a rock and a hard place. Only a few players, including the workaholic midfielder King Utete, have really proven their mettle, leaving ex-Kaizer Chiefs striker Petros with a mammoth task ahead of him.
The 21-year-old Utete, formerly with Black Rhinos, has clearly been the most outstanding player from Whawha.
This afternoon, Petros’ strugglers stagger into the capital for a date with equally troubled CAPS United, who are still smarting from their worst defeat in about 40 years.
Makepekepe were hammered 6-2 by high-flying Manica Diamonds at Sakubva last Sunday, in a defeat that sent alarm bells ringing in the green half of the capital. However, their tough-talking coach, Lloyd Chitembwe, is refusing to buckle under pressure.
Chitembwe, who won the title with CAPS in 2016, actually thinks his charges can turn the corner, starting with the game against Whawha at the National Sports Stadium this afternoon.
“I think it’s still early in the season and I still believe we are a very good team,” Chitembwe said.
He has been criticised in some circles for assembling a squad of “old horses”, but Chitembwe is adamant he made the right choices. Rodwell Chinyengetere and Dennis Dauda (both 33) as well as Devon Chafa and William Manondo (30), are now part of CAPS United.
Makepekepe have also enlisted the services of 31-year-old former Warriors defender Jimmy Dzingai while a deal is being finalised for 35-year-old centre back Marshall Machazane.
The experienced Ronald Chitiyo and Phineas Bamusi are some of the key players still at CAPS United.
“I believe in every single one of these players and we have the capacity to win games. I am not the kind of person who doesn’t let a defeat crush him for more than 24 hours,” said Chitembwe, in reference to the 6-2 drubbing at Manica Diamonds.
His team have four points from five matches and have scored three goals against seven.
Online Reporter