SHANDIRWA CAN SEE SOME LIGHT AT CAPS

Bruce Chikuni-Sports Reporter

CAPS United midfielder Tanaka Shandirwa believes the Green Machine are slowly adapting to the way new coach Ian Bakala wants them to play.

Shandirwa was the hero when CAPS United edged Manica Diamonds 1-0 with a late strike at Sakubva which saw Bakala claiming his first win on Saturday.

Bakala had failed to register a victory in three attempts, losing once and drawing twice.

They bounced back from their terrible performance last week’s terrible performance, where they stumbled to a 1-3 loss at the hands of Simba Bhora, at Rufaro.

Interestingly, Shandirwa appears to have waited to open his CAPS United account in the city which played a big part in his adventure as a footballer.

He was voted as the best player twice during the Willard Katsande Under-18 annual tournament when he was doing his O’Level at Mweya Mutsvene High in Mutare.

The goal he scored on Saturday came from an assist from the lively Tendai Matindife, who also hails from Mutare.

Matindife appears to have won the confidence of Bakala and impressed when he came on as a substitute against Simba when the damage had already been done.

This was CAPS United’s second win against the Gem Boys at this venue and their last set of full points came in the 2019 campaign where they won by a similar scoreline.

Shandirwa said he has a special connection with Mutare, which makes him feel at home.

“I will never feel out of place whenever I’m playing football in Mutare because of the time I spent during my High School days.

“They also showed me love during the Katsande tournaments and I always try to be at my best everytime that I get the opportunity to play football in Mutare.

“It feels good to be on the scoresheet for a club like CAPS United and it is something that I owe to the fans who embraced me the moment I arrived,” said Shandirwa.

He added:

“We are slowly starting to understand how our coach wants us to play and it is a process.

“I believe we are not very far from where he wants us to be but it is something that demands everyone to give full commitment, we need to start winning as many games as possible.

“Everyone knows we don’t belong where we are on the log table at the moment and it is something which is also helping us to keep our eyes open because of the consequences that come with it.”