Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
CAPS United, FC Platinum and Simba Bhora share more than just the colour green.
The three clubs are also enduring remarkably similar struggles in the 2026 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League campaign, with their title ambitions rapidly disintegrating by each passing game.
Their woes deepened over the weekend as CAPS United suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to relegation-threatened Triangle United, a result that further damaged their fading championship hopes.
FC Platinum also endured another frustrating afternoon, losing 2-0 to MWOS, while defending champions Simba Bhora were stunned 2-1 by newcomers AGAMA at their own Wadzanayi Stadium turf which they share with the newboys.
Given the significant investment each club made before the start of the season, few would have predicted they would be languishing outside the title picture at this stage of the campaign. Yet the season has unfolded in dramatic contrast to expectations.
The decline has been most striking at CAPS United. Makepekepe led the championship race for much of the first half of the season but now find themselves struggling to remain in the top six.
The Green Machine appear to have lost momentum at a crucial stage of the season. Following consecutive defeats, which included a surprise 1-0 loss to FC Hunters and Sunday’s setback in the Lowveld, CAPS United now trail leaders Scottland by 13 points, having played a game more.
Coach Takesure Chiragwi admits the situation is painful, especially because his side has often dominated matches without translating that superiority into victories.
“And yes, we are hurt but at the end of the day, we also need to make sure that we get ourselves back and try to work harder to get to the winning ways,” said Chiragwi.
“But you cannot ask for more from the players, to be honest, because if you are in control of the game sometimes it’s very difficult to see where you are getting it wrong.
“But I think also our let down is not probably taking chances that we are getting in front of the goal mark. That’s only the difference,” said Chiragwi.
Ironically, FC Platinum coach Joel Luphahla finds himself facing a similar predicament.
Like CAPS United, the Zvishavane side struggled to turn dominance into results and again similar to Makepekepe, the platinum miners have managed just one win in their last nine league matches. They sit 11th on the table with 31 points from 25 games.
Their title challenge is all but over, with Scottland holding a commanding 21-point advantage over them going into the last nine rounds of play.
“Right now, we are already in a bad situation,” said Luphahla.
“It’s disappointing with the investment that the club has put into the team. I feel that we are letting the club and supporters down.
“I’m the first one to always put the hand up and say, ‘I feel that at the present moment, we are not doing justice for them and we have got a couple of games to try and maybe just redeem ourselves because it’s becoming a worse season.”
The situation is not any better at Simba Bhora.
The 2024 champions have collected just one victory in their last seven outings, a run that has seen them slip to ninth place on the standings with 33 points.
Their recent struggles have included defeats to teams fighting near the bottom of the table, among them TelOne, FC Hunters and, most recently, AGAMA.
Coach Mandla Mpofu has effectively conceded that they are not in the title race, shifting focus towards securing a respectable finish.
“We might be out of the race in terms of the championship but I think we still have a very good chance to collect as many points as possible and finish strong.
“If all goes well, with good consistency a top four or top five is very much possible,” said Mpofu.
