Sundaymail Editor
Langton Nyakwenda
Sports Reporter
WITH four defeats on the trot and an unpredictable dressing room owing to their unstable financial situation, CAPS United continue to look vulnerable.
Their opponents today are ambitious Bulawayo Chiefs, who have gathered momentum in the last few weeks and could capitalise on disturbances that have been haunting Makepekepe.
While CAPS United have lost their last four league matches, Bulawayo Chiefs have been unbeaten in their last six.
The four-game losing streak is their longest since 2012 when they went on a seven-match barren run between July 8 and August 26.
They lost four on the trot under Irishman Sean Connor, who was subsequently replaced by Taurai Mangwiro, who also failed to win three games on the bounce.
As a result of their current poor run, CAPS United are now 13 points behind their arch-rivals Dynamos, with the Harare Derby looming on the horizon.
The two Harare giants are set to clash in a high-stakes encounter at the National Sports Stadium that will be beamed live on ZTN Prime (DStv channel 294) next Sunday.
The channel will also broadcast today’s match between Dynamos and Herentals.
Dangerous Opponent
Bulawayo Chiefs assistant coach Thulani Sibanda, who is in charge this afternoon in the absence of Nilton Terroso, thinks CAPS United remain a dangerous opponent.
“Playing against CAPS United is a tough encounter.
“They have seasoned players and a seasoned coach, so the game can go either way,” Sibanda said.
There are some interesting stats around this fixture.
Chiefs are yet to win a league match against CAPS United since 2018 when they were promoted into the Premiership.
Ironically, Makepekepe have never won a league match against Chiefs in Bulawayo, with their meetings in the City of Kings ending in stalemate.
“We will not read into the past. Yes, we haven’t beaten them in the league but there is always a first time.
“I think we have prepared well; the boys are geared up.
“The boys are getting better in terms of understanding coach Terroso’s philosophy.”
Terroso will not be on the bench this afternoon as he is back in Europe for some football studies.
The gaffer has been credited for promoting professionalism at the financially stable Chiefs, who have also hogged the limelight for being the most active local team on social media.
They go into the match against CAPS banking on a six-game unbeaten run, but they will be without two key players — Kelvin Madzongwe and the exciting Mthokozisi Msebe.
Both are nursing injuries.
The Ninjas have two wins and four draws in their last six encounters and are now ninth on the log, with 19 points from 15 games.
Makepekepe sit on 11th position after amassing 17 points from 15 outings.
Of their four meetings in the league since 2018, CAPS United have won once while the other three ended in draws.
Their last encounter produced six goals in a 3-3 draw in Bulawayo on August 31, 2019.
The reverse fixture had produced five goals when CAPS United were 4-1 winners at the National Sports Stadium on April 28, 2019.
Cumulatively, their last two league encounters have produced 11 goals, an average of 5.5 per match.
Chaos
While the Green Machine are hamstrung by financial constraints, their city rivals Dynamos also have their own issues.
DeMbare were rocked by the recent questionable suspension of coach Tonderai Ndiraya, who was later reinstated on Friday.
On the same day, veteran administrator Jonathan Mashingaidze bounced back as the club’s chief executive officer, but the side are still to make a formal announcement.
In the week that Ndiraya was frozen out, his assistants Naison Muchekela and Gift “Umbro” Muzadzi took charge of training.
Muzadzi revealed that they were also working to ensure the players would not be distracted by developments at the club.
Ndiraya is expected to sit on the technical bench for today’s assignment against Herentals.
Dynamos have a history of performing well when odds are against them, especially when they are in a crisis, and Herentals coach Kumbirai Mutiwekuziva is alive to this fact.
“Dynamos are a big team and can pull even under such situations.
“As Herentals, we need to keep focused on the field of play and keep our eyes on the ball.
“The in-house problems at Dynamos should not get into our minds,” he said.
“We will have to work hard to get maximum points. Dynamos is not an easy team and the position that they currently occupy on the log tells you that they are doing well.
“But we have confidence going into the tie because of the recent results that we have posted. Morale is high and the spirit in camp is good.”
DeMbare have 30 points and are second on the log behind Chicken Inn, while Herentals are a distant eighth with 22 points.
The Students are unbeaten in their last three matches in which they upstaged champions FC Platinum 1-0 in Harare before holding Chicken Inn 0-0 at Luveve Stadium.
Herentals drew 1-1 against Chiefs at the National Sports Stadium in their last game.
Tenax also host Cranborne Bullets at Sakubva Stadium in a battle of the uniformed forces.
Fixtures
Tenax v Cranborne Bullets (Sakubva)
Bulawayo Chiefs v CAPS United (Barbourfields)
Dynamos v Herentals [National Sports Stadium (live on ZTN Prime)
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter