Imagine a PSL without CAPS?

Andrew Rusike
EVER wondered what the PSL would be like without CAPS United? The Green Machine take on Harare City in their penultimate match of the league programme at the National Sports Stadium tomorrow.

Without CAPS, the top-flight league would not be the same in terms of excitement.

It’s Harare City, though, who are fighting relegation with, CAPS hoping that a little window can be opened for them to be champions.

But the Green Machine’s interest in battle for the championship can end today if Harare City or Dynamos win in their showdown at the National Sports Stadium today.

Only a draw for DeMbare will keep CAPS United’s interests alive.

But imagine a top-flight league without CAPS.

Even bitter rivals Dynamos will testify that if there was no CAPS United for the past four years, they might not have won at least two of their three league titles.

Why?

The wins and draws they got from CAPS United might have turned to be losses against other teams, thus losing the title to Bosso and Harare City, since they won on goal difference last season.

Any other team, Bosso included, would have been mauled by Harare City on the final match day of the 2013 season, but CAPS held City to a 2-2 draw to give Dynamos an advantage, which they fully utilised.

Simba Sithole (former CAPS United player), who scored on the final day against Black Mambas, could have been another player, even from DeMbare juniors, who could have crumbled under pressure and failed to score.

Imagine that from the current top three teams on the 2014 PSL log, the following players have had or are having a connection with CAPS United:

(a) Dynamos — Six Players

Simba Sithole, Washington Pakamisa, Tafadzwa Rusike, Clive Kawinga, Stephen Alimenda and Oscar Machapa

(b) ZPC Kariba — Six players, one coach.

Tawanda Nyamandwe, Tawanda Munyanduri, Pride Tafirenyika, Terence Gonzo, David Rediyoni, Limited Chikafa and coach Saul Chaminuka(who knows, if he had not gone to CAPS from Buffaloes he could be coaching Yadah Gunners in Division One)

The whole CAPS United itself.

The contribution that CAPS have made so far to the intriguing finish to the 2014 season is by ‘providing’ at least 43 players and officials.

Mind you, this ‘contribution’ is from a broke CAPS United.

So, what then makes CAPS United tick, especially during the past two seasons?

Personally, I think the name itself, CAPS United carries the day.

But then, we have Bosso with sponsorship and a bigger name, and a bigger support base than CAPS United, this season they are behind a sponsorless CAPS United, at least in terms of results.

This leaves me to be tempted to believe that there is someone who is uniting this broke CAPS United to just deliver on the field of play.

This person has been hated by some sections of the CAPS family but, actually, he is the one who has united the divided United.

He is Taurai Mangwiro.

Just take away Taurai Mangwiro and replace him with a ”technically better coach” and see what happens under the same environment.

I am not sure if that person will stand the challenges of training players who are working for a team without a sponsor for their three-year contracts and still give headaches (on the field of play) to the well-sponsored title-chasing teams who have benefited from former CAPS United`s players’ experience.

My big question is: Has the PSL benefited from a broke CAPS United?

If so, isn`t this brutal exploitation?

Andrew Rusike is the Managing Director of Andysh Consultancy (Pvt) Ltd.