dyton mupawaenda
Eddie Chikamhi-Senior Sports Reporter
AILING giants CAPS United are desperate for a win as they face defending champions FC Platinum in a difficult Castle Lager Premiership match at Mandava today.
Ever since they fell from the top of the table earlier in the season, the Green Machine have been struggling to put their campaign on track.
And with the way the script has unfolded in the last two months, they have transitioned from title contenders to relegation fighters after drifting 15 points behind log leaders Highlanders and just four above the relegation zone going into the last 13 games of the season.
Club captain Tonderai Mateyunga told journalists they could not afford to keep dropping points, having gone the last six games without winning a game.
“Obviously, playing FC Platinum is not an easy encounter. FC Platinum have created a status for themselves in the past few years they have been champions.
“So, we are going there with all we have and knowing it’s time to restore the club’s pride. The supporters, the executive and all the CAPS United stakeholders need results. As players, we also need the results.
“Definitely we are not happy with the position that we are in, and there is no better game that we have to try and turn the tables around than this one.
“It’s a game that is winnable. This is a game for us, we should rise. It’s going to be a big battle because we all need points. We have to go to Mandava and work hard. I think everything will come into place if we work hard and apply ourselves well,” said Mateyaunga.
The alarm bells have been ringing loud at CAPS United for the past few weeks. Winless in six games, the Harare giants are desperate for a turnaround of fortunes.
CAPS United have picked only one win in their last 11 outings. As a result, Makepekepe find themselves in an almost similar situation as they were at this stage last season, when they had to flirt with relegation.
Assistant coach Tonderai Marume said the technical team was working behind the scenes to get the team out of trouble.
“These days we have terminology that we use. We say football is coach-driven, player-centred and scientifically-oriented. So, as coaches know what it means to get maximum points.
“So we try by all means to drive the team so that whenever we get onto the field of play we get the required result,” he said.
Marume said Makepekepe, who have also been shuttling to Gweru for their home matches following the crisis of stadiums, said fatigue was not an issue.
“We are trained to manage situations. Travelling, results, performance; all those things are things that we have to make sure we manage as coaches.
“We know when we play in Gweru this week, the following week we will be playing in Zvishavane or Bulawayo. We know how to manage our trainings, how to manage the loads and how all to also make sure that the logistics are properly put in place so that when we play there are no excuses.
“It’s not an excuse, whether we travel or we play in Harare or anywhere, we have to make sure that we play to our best because these are the things we are trained to do.”
He said Makepekepe will be looking up to their experienced players to turn the tide against Norman Mapeza’s young guns.
“Of course we are very happy we have quite a number of experienced players in our team. They also help us on the field of play because as coaches we won’t be on the pitch but these guys help us carry out some leadership roles that we cannot do on the match day.
“We have always encouraged them to take up leadership roles on the field of play. This experience can help us to manage such games as these.
“They know what it takes and what these games mean and they can always apply the different experiences they have garnered throughout their careers and we are very happy”.
FC Platinum also experienced an almost similar slump before bouncing back with a big win over log leaders Highlanders two weeks ago. But they immediately relapsed to mediocrity following a 1-1 draw against Bulawayo Chiefs in their last match.
However, coach Norman Mapeza is keeping his eyes open ahead of the match.
“Everyone knows where we are coming from and what we are trying to achieve. It’s not going to be an easy game for us. CAPS United have not been getting the desired results of late but they are really a quality side, full of experienced players,” Mapeza said.
Online Reporter