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Tadious Manyepo-Sports Reporter
CAPS United skipper Tonderai Mateyaunga is a motivated lot heading into their Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match against ZPC Kariba at the National Sports Stadium tomorrow.
The Green Machine have started the season brightly after collecting four points in their opening two games.
Their opponents tomorrow have also been equally good with the same number of points under their belt and carrying two clean sheets with them, just like Makepekepe.
And the two teams’ showdown tomorrow is expected to be juicy, given both teams thrive on possession.
That ZPC Kariba coach Darlington Dodo will be returning to face a club that he was mentoring less than two years ago will only add to the excitement.
And for Mateyaunga, who is proving to be a good leader since his appointment as the CAPS United captain a few weeks ago, the season couldn’t have started any better.
He has made The Herald PSL Team of the Week in the opening two match-days with his exploits between the sticks proving to be pivotal to Makepekepe in their 2-0 opening day win over Manica Diamonds and a goalless draw against Ngezi Platinum last weekend.
“I am very happy, as CAPS United, we have managed to keep two clean sheets in succession. Before we look at anything else, that is a very good positive to build on.
“We have also managed to pick four points out of a possible six. It is very encouraging given how we were performing at this same period last season.
“As an individual, I am also humbled that I have managed to keep two clean sheets and I have been in The Herald Premier Soccer League Team of the Week for two consecutive weeks,” said Mateyaunga.
“That’s something very remarkable for me and all the credit to my coach Lloyd Chitembwe who invests his faith in me and my teammates for complimenting my efforts.
“We have fighters in this team and from the way we interact, you can tell you are in the midst of well-meaning individuals who are hungry to succeed.
“The spirit in this team is unbelievable and I have no doubt we will be punching hard throughout the season. Everything is just ideal and proper.”
The former Dynamos shot-stopper said while ZPC Kariba are tricky opponents, CAPS United will be seeking to get the maximum points.
“We are taking each game as it comes. We managed to beat Manica Diamonds in our first game and we played a goalless draw against Ngezi Platinum in our second match.
“In both games, we showed a lot of character as a team. We outplayed Manica Diamonds and we managed to neutralise Ngezi Platinum when they were coming hard on us last weekend.
“That just shows our quality and flexibility when it comes to doing what’s needed in different situations.
“We play ZPC Kariba at home on Sunday (tomorrow) and we are very much prepared for that game. It’s not a secret that all the games are tough and the one against ZPC Kariba is no exception.
“The difference comes in the application. We need to be shrewd in our approach. We haven’t played them this year and we can’t judge anything until we play them.
“Every game we will play will be difficult and we need that flexibility to do what needs to be done to get the points. We have the right personnel in our team.
“We have a lot of experienced players who know how to play and apply themselves in whatever game they play.
“ZPC Kariba can never be pushovers. They will come at us obviously and we need to just do better than them if we are to take the points with us.”
CAPS United are seeking to win the league title for the first time in seven years.
Online Reporter