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Eddie Chikamhi Senior Sports Reporter
CAPS United president Farai Jere is confident his Green Machine will be able to shake off the misery they are currently going through as the club looks headed for a disappointing finish to the 2023 season. Makepekepe, have been under the weather for the past few months, will tomorrow troop onto the field to face traditional rivals Highlanders in a Chibuku Super Cup quarterfinal tie at Barbourfields.
Jere, who recently contested and won the Murehwa West constituency in the national harmonised elections, yesterday broke his silence over the poor fortunes his team has been experiencing of late.
The CAPS United majority shareholder also revealed he shared the pain with the club’s supporters after Makepekepe went nine games without winning in the league campaign.
But they kept their quest in the Chibuku Super Cup alive after edging Hwange 1-0 in the first round.
“As we look to face Highlanders in the Chibuku Super Cup quarter-final, we know that the CAPS United faithful are not happy with our recent results,” said Jere.
“But those that have been fortunate to watch the matches will also agree that the overall performances have not been that terrible.
“It is also very important to note that every team goes through a lean spell at any given moment in a season and it is not unique to CAPS United… it happens even in the big European leagues to clubs like Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool, AC Milan, Juventus, Barcelona and South of the Limpopo teams like Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates have endured their lean moments.
“What defines those teams, and CAPS United included, is the character and the capacity to bounce back which we believe we have and, with the continued backing of everyone in the CAPS United family, this team will rise again and the starting point could be against Highlanders on Sunday,” added Jere.
However, the former Cup Kings of Zimbabwe have been a pale shadow of their glorious past, especially when the Chibuku upper Cup is mentioned.
They have failed to make it past the first round stage in five of the eight completed editions of the tournament.
They were eliminated at the quarterfinal stage by FC Platinum in the inaugural edition in 2014. The following season they were knocked out in the first round by ZPC Kariba.
They again fell at the first hurdle in 2016 after losing to Tsholotsho, on both instance via a penalty shootout.
Makepekepe had a frustrating outing in 2017 and their quarterfinal tie against Shabanie Mine was abandoned midway through the second half following crowd trouble. The Premier Soccer League Ad hoc Committee awarded the match to Shabanie Mine on a 3-0 scoreline after the Green Machine supporters were found at fault.
Further, CAPS United were fined a sum of $2 000. Makepekepe’s best performance was in 2018 when they reached the semi-finals but were knocked out by Harare City. They fell at the first hurdle in 2019, 2021 and last year when they lost to Black Rhinos.
The Harare giants will be hoping to atone for the miserable statistics when they face Highlanders at Barbourfields tomorrow.
Fixtures:
Today: FC Platinum v Dynamos (Mandava), Chicken Inn v Black Rhinos (Luveve)
Tomorrow: Herentals v Ngezi Platinum Stars (National Sports Stadium), Highlanders v CAPS United (Barbourfields)
Online Reporter