Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo-Zimpapers Sports Hub
CAPS United coach Takesure Chiragwi will not be FIRED even if he doesn’t win the league championship this season.
His contract demands, at least, a TOP FOUR finish, which the Green Machine have a chance of getting at the end of the season.
Even if CAPS United fail to finish among the top our, there could be some extenuating circumstances, like their bizarre goalkeeping issues, which will save the coach.
The Green Machine, who started brightly and won all their opening four games, have faded badly in recent weeks and Chiragwi has come under a lot of pressure.
The coach is unhappy with the way his team let slip a chance to compete for the championship which now appears to be a race between Scottland and Hardrock, with Dynamos being the dark horses.
The former Ngezi Platinum Stars gaffer took charge of his childhood team early this year and appeared to have transformed the Green Machine.
The Harare giants have, since 2019 when they finished third on the table, struggled to put together a decent term, often finding themselves in the relegation matrix.
But things have changed dramatically at the beginning of the year, thanks to a huge investment by the club, and Chiragwi’s technical acumen.
They are mathematically still in with a chance to shout for the title but with 13 points separating them from leaders Scottland and only nine games remaining, they could as well be out of contention, in reality.
Yet surrendering the fight was the last thing Chiragwi wanted to see his boys doing, especially after starting the marathon on the front foot.
“I am really hurt with this situation,” Chiragwi said.
“We never wanted to surrender the fight.
“We really needed to fight until the end. Yes we will but the stretch we are in has been disappointing. “I am hurt for myself, the players, the fans and everyone at the club including the president (Farai Jere).”
Chiragwi is down at the moment, so are his players.
But amid the disappointment and soul-searching, Jere organised a braai for them to calm them down.
He backed Chiragwi.
“We are interacting here today (late Monday). It’s our bright day. Why is it bright? Because we are not panicking as a team.
“I’ll tell you why. I have two reasons. Since the last time we won the league, in terms of points tally, we have done very well.
“It’s very positive. I don’t see this team finishing with less than 50 points in this competition.
“That will be a plus for coach Chiragwi.
“If it were any other year, right now we could be looking at the team at the bottom.
“Last year, by this time, we were second or third from the bottom and everyone thought this team was going to be relegated.
“Now we are talking about winning the championship.”
He added:
“I know expectations and demands become high with that.
“But, look at this team. It’s a great team. They have been dominating matches and we are just not getting the results.
“So, what happens if you press the panic button for a team like this? You make wrong decisions.
“We need to look at where we have a problem. If a team is creating chances, take note: it’s a clear sign that the philosophy of the coach is working.
“The issue is we are failing to score. Everyone is saying our team is not scoring.”
Jere said there was a lot still to play for.
“I know we become emotional and fail to look at the facts. A season is not only about the league.
“We still have two Cups coming: the ZIFA Munhumutapa Cup and the Chibuku Super Cup.
“The season is still on.
“As a team, we are not panicking. We are very happy. Today is our bright day on the calendar with the players.
“We are discussing what is happening. We don’t want to put too much pressure on our strikers. We want them to be composed.
“I don’t know what people mean when they say we need to turn a corner. We scored three goals against Hardrock just three to four weeks ago.”
Jere last night had an interface with the club fans with the veteran administrator saying the meeting yielded desired results.
