Evans Gwekwerere’s future uncertain

loss to Chicken Inn, had hoped to discuss their tactical shortcomings and also host a bonding session to show that the team was together during these trying times.
The club’s technical team emphaised on the importance of all players attending yesterday’s session at which the team manager, Sean Connor, and his assistant, Lloyd Chitembwe, were set to address the players and map the way forward in the wake of the demoralising defeat on Saturday.
But Gwekwerere, who was introduced as a second half substitute against Chicken Inn, was conspicuous by his absence in his latest problem against the team’s strict disciplinary charter.
The former Dynamos forward was introduced shortly after the interval at Gwanzura, with the Green Machine fans calling for his introduction, and he failed to turn it around as CAPS United slumped to a 0-2 defeat.
There have been reports in the CAPS United camp that Gwekwerere fell out with Chitembwe during a training camp in Chiredzi when he refused to wear T-shirts, used by the club in a promotional venture, during their stay in the Lowveld.
The reports claimed Chitembwe was so disappointed by Gwekwerere’s behaviour he ordered the striker to leave the training camp and immediately return home.
But Connor is believed to have intervened arguing that it was important to engage the player and work on his weaknesses, in the hope of trying to get the best out of him, than punishing him during that training camp. However, both Connor and Chitembwe dismissed such reports in subsequent interviews and media conferences and, to show that CAPS United was still one family, Gwekwerere was brought along to one of the press briefings.
However, yesterday’s decision by the striker to skip training, without any explanation, is believed to have infuriated the club’s leadership and technical team and could be the final straw in a strained relationship.
While Gwekwerere is still popular with the fans, with many of them singing his name at Gwanzura and reacting warmly when he was introduced, he has been running a fine line, in terms of testing the club’s disciplinary charter, and could pay a huge price.
While noone at CAPS United was prepared to comment yesterday, with the club’s leadership said to be out of the country and the technical team pressed with other issues, The Herald was realiably advised that Gwekwerere’s issue has become a big case at the Green Machine.
“All the other players heeded the call by the coaches to come back to training on Easter Monday because the technical guys felt there was need to work on a number of tactical issues and to bond together so that the focus could not be diverted by what happened on Saturday,” said the sources.
“Everyone concedes that what happened on Saturday was very, very bad and the supporters, to a large extent, have a right to feel they were let down by their team, and that is the players and the technical staff.
“So, there was an emphasis from the coaches that the Easter Monday training session was important and it was key for everyone to be involved but Evans was the only one missing.
“It’s quite disappointing that there is such an attitude towards work by some of the very senior players in the team and the problem is that the supporters don’t usually see all this and it also has a big effect in terms of the influence it has on other players.
“Dynamos players, who won a bigger game on Sunday, were back in training today (yesterday) because they are serious about what they want to achieve but some of our players, who played a game on Saturday, chose not to come for training.”
Connor, the Northern Irishman engaged at the beginning of the year, has an open door policy, in which he gives players the benefit of doubt, but there are some at CAPS United who feel his way of doing business, based on trust, is being manipulated and abused by some players.
“Sean tries to give the players the benefit of doubt and when one says he is injured, the coach appears to trust him but that is being abused by some of the players, who don’t want to work, and the team is now feeling it,” said the sources.
A meeting held by the club’s management and their coaching staff on Easter Sunday resolved that discipline should be enforced at the club and all players should work hard in training.
Connor and Chitembwe, reported in some circles to be at loggerheads, went to dinner together that Easter Sunday night in a show of unity but both will be disappointed by Gwekwerere’s latest antics.