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From Paul Mundandi in ZVISHAVANE
Shabanie Mine . . . . . . . . . . . (1)3
CAPS United. . . . . . . . . . .(0) 1
CAPS United coach Taurai Mangwiro yesterday sensationally announced that he was quitting the Harare giants after watching his side slumping to a disappointing defeat at the hands of Shabanie Mine in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Maglas.
Mangwiro, who last week vented out his frustration, alleging that he was not getting adequate support from his superiors to motivate the players, yesterday decided he has had enough and quit as the CAPS United head coach.
“I am the biggest loser. I have worked so hard but someone is not content with what I have done at CAPS United. He wants me out of the system and he is not happy but I have done my bit. My vision is not working well with some people and the best thing for CAPS United is to bring in another person to take over the team.
“I do not see myself winning if I stayed on and I am leaving the team in a good position. I will communicate to the responsible authorities and I am sorry that I had to advise you (the Press) first.
“I am speaking on my own behalf and I do not know what will happen to (assistant coach) Saul (Chaminuka). I am leaving to save the team and I am not bigger than CAPS United,” said a tearful Mangwiro.
Just after the match, the coach went into the stadium and saluted the Makepekepe fans on the Eastern bay.
The CAPS United players have not been receiving their salaries and even Mangwiro confessed that he had not been paid for the past three months but he was trying to soldier on for the good of the Green Machine family.
CAPS United have been sailing in stormy waters in recent months and only three weeks ago the players staged an industrial action to force the management to address their plight.
“We have a good team and with what we have assembled even a baboon can come and coach and bring positive results as long as I am no longer in the system. If I lose to Dynamos it seems some people do not take it easily as they think I would have been paid (to lost against Dynamos) but my players will be giving out their best.
“This was my last match and it’s a pity that we lost the plot a few weeks ago. I am doing everything, I run the team and nobody speaks to me,” said the 43-year-old coach Mangwiro.
Mangwiro has been credited in some quarters for bringing stability to the embattled Green Machine following years of recession since they last won the championship in 2005 under Charles Mhlauri.
The respected gaffer, who won the league title with Monomotapa in 2008, joined CAPS United last year and had appeared to get the thumbs up from the Green Machine family for his efforts.
Mangwiro had been in charge for their last 19 league games since his return in April from the Asiagate bans, winning nine and drawing five matches to help the Green Machine to launch their first realistic assault for the championship in eight years.
CAPS United are currently fifth on the log table with 36 points from 23 starts. They are just six points adrift of leaders Dynamos with seven matches remaining in the season.
Apart from the sad news of Mangwiro’s resignation, the match was a thriller and the packed Maglas enjoyed every minute of it with Masvingo-based referee Makonese Masakadza in total control of the proceedings.
Former Masvingo United midfielder Pervington Zimunya was the hero for the home side as he scored a brace but he later turned villain when he was given his marching orders in the 65th minute.
Caleb Masocha scored the final goal in the 66th minute with CAPS United reducing the arrears through a well-taken penalty by Moses Muchenje in the 81st minute.
The asbestos miners were thrust into the lead after CAPS United defender Arnold Chivheya handled in the box under pressure from Tarisai Rukanda. Masakadza pointed to the spot and Zimunya sent Tafadzwa Dube the wrong way when he placed his effort to the right.
After the breather Zimunya was fed outside the box by forceful striker Tarisai Rukanda and released a scorcher that Dube failed to handle and only managed to retrieve it from the net.
Zimunya, who had been booked earlier for diving, then made a wild celebration, scaling the fence which left Masakadza with no option but to send him for an early shower.
A minute after the expulsion Shabanie, who wanted a victory to survive relegation more than their opponents, saw Masocha increasing their tally.
William Ngonya, who seems to be improving with each outing, won possession deep inside the Makepekepe half and sent a long searching cross that saw Masocha out-jumping the CAPS United defence, placing a firm header past the badly positioned Dube, in goal for the visitors.
CAPS United were then gifted with an opportunity to reduce the arrears by Ngonya.
Benson Maglasi, who is fond of dribbling, weaved his way past Ngonya and the defender, in a moment of madness, brought down the exciting player and Masakadza awarded the visitors a penalty.
And Moses Muchenje sent the otherwise impressive Victor Twaliki the wrong way and the goal brought smiles on the faces of the Makepekepe faithful. Shabanie could have scored many goals but they were let down by some inept shooting.
Masocha, who was the captain of the day for the asbestos miners, could have drawn first blood for his side in the 21st minute when he was sent through by Zimunya but with only Dube to beat he directed his effort over the bar .
A minute later it was Rukanda’s turn when he reacted to a pass from Valentine Ndaba but the former Bosso striker took time to shoot at goal, allowing the CAPS United rearguard to clear their lines.
Makepekepe then launched an attack through Tapiwa Kumbuyani in the 36th minute but Twaliki saved his goal-bound header for a corner which the visitors failed to utilise.
With a minute to the breather, Rukanda sold a dummy to Stephen Makatuka and came face-to-face with Dube but the striker’s effort was tipped over the bar for a corner by the agile goal-minder with Shabanie Mine fans already celebrating a goal.
As usual Tafadzwa Mombeshora stood head and shoulders above the rest with his good defensive skills which were later complemented by Fungai Chirinda.
The victory by Shabanie Mine meant that the miners completed a double of the Harare side after posting another 3-1 victory at Rufaro earlier this year.
“We have survived relegation. We are safe and my aim is now to finish in the top eight because we must defend the BancABC trophy we won a few weeks ago. We were in top form from the first to the last minute.
“It feels great to complete a double over a very good team with a very good history. I was affected by the red card to Zimunya though to us it will look like he is injured.
“We will miss him for the Hwange because but he got over-excited but it will not be a big blow,” said Shabanie coach Luke Masomere. Mangwiro had earlier praised Masomere.
“He continues to do better every day in terms of our clashes. He won by scoring at the crucial stages and we were second best,” said Mangwiro, before opening his heart to the unfolding events at CAPS United.
Teams
Shabanie Mine: V Twaliki (R Mazingi 93rd minute),S Muchabayiwa, P Sithole (F Chirinda 60th minute), W Ngonya, T Mombeshora, B Mbavarira, F Bushire, P Zimunya, C Masocha, T Rukanda, V Ndaba (S Ndlovu 89th minute)
CAPS United: T Dube,T Kumbuyani, L Fiyado (H Muchiso 70th minute), M Chinembeza, S Makatuka, B Mapfumo (M Muchenje 60th minute),B Maglasi, A Chivheya, T Nyamandwe, H Zvirekwi, T Munyanduri (D Chungwa 60th minute).
Online Reporter