‘We got what we deserved’

Augustine Hwata Sports Reporter
CAPS United coach Mark Harrison feels that his players failed to come to the party on Sunday and deserved the heavy battering they received at the hands of Triangle in a Castle Lager Premiership match at Gibbo.Harrison and his troops were back in the capital city yesterday licking wounds following a 4-0 thumping at the Lowveld side, who consolidated their position at the top of the table.

A brace from Nhamo Lameck and strikes from Richard Kawondera and Felix Kuswatuka saw Triangle registering an empathic victory over a Green Machine that failed to fire even from a single cylinder.

Before Harrison’s first visit to the Lowveld, there were unsettling reports when two of the club’s former directors Nhamo Tutisani and Lewis Uriri gave notice to approach the High Court seeking liquidation of the club over failure to pay debts.

Uriri and Tutisani dropped the bombshell just a few days before a Labour Court granted an arbitration award to seven players.

Kenneth Bulaji, Dominic Chungwa, Tafadzwa Dube, Dominic Mukandi, Ronald Pfumbidzayi, Stephen Makatuka and Tendai Samanja were awarded a combined $59 000 owed by the club in salaries and bonuses.

The ruling from the Labour Court also came as the Premier Soccer League officially announced that CAPS United had lost three points to How Mine after their players had boycotted a league match before the Easter holidays.

“It was not one of our best performances. Too many players simply did not come to the party during the game.

“We failed to play as a team and we did not even have individuals who were exceptionally playing well,” said Harrison.

CAPS United now shift their attention to an Independence Trophy semi-final clash against FC Platinum at Mandava tomorrow before they meet ZPC Kariba in a league match next week.

“I did not learn anything from that defeat. There were very little positives which I can draw from that match. We did just most of the things wrong. We were second to the ball, we failed to complete passes and we failed to mark,” said Harrison.

Lanky CAPS United forward Rodreck Mutuma thought that he had given his side the lead in the 14th minute, but referee Munyaradzi Majoni ruled for offside.

“Our game plan was to contain Triangle in the first 30 minutes of the game. The temperatures were high around 33 degrees and the grass in the pitch was high and it stalled the movement of the ball.

“We knew that Triangle will use the pitch to their advantage, but we made two silly mistakes and conceded two goals,” said Harrison.

After going two goals down, CAPS United players, who were already mentally tortured, failed to minimise the damage with the frustration rubbing to assistant coach Brenna Msiska who was then ejected from the bench in the 56th minute.

“We did not do most of the things right and we got what we deserved for failing to keep to our game plan,” said Harrison.

CAPS United skipper Hardlife Zvirekwi shared his coach’s sentiments, that events leading to the Triangle match sapped their mental strength.

“The spirit at the moment is low considering that we were beaten by such a big margin in Triangle. Again last week we lost points to How Mine and all these things would tend to have an effect on the morale of the team.

“It seems like the guys are at their lowest and right now the players would need a lot of encouragement and motivation to get through this difficult phase,” said Zvirekwi.

CAPS United are now in eighth position on the log with seven points and Zvirekwi challenged his troops to get their league campaign back on track.

“But we have to forget about that defeat and try to concentrate on our future games. We need to be positive in the way we approach our next game. We have to be men enough and demonstrate that we can fight. Character is needed.

“I think we conceded soft goals at Triangle. It was hot and the turf was heavy which made it difficult to play. So we didn’t create meaningful chances and we chased the game from the start to finish,” said Zvirekwi.

But while the CAPS United family was still trying to come to grips with defeat, Triangle coach Kelvin Kaindu is now aiming to keep their unbeaten run intact for longer.

During his stint at Highlanders in 2012, Kaindu went for an unbeaten 23-match run.

“It was a very good result for us. I would like to believe that we had a proper test against CAPS United since they are one of the top teams in the Premiership. In fact, they are one of the title contenders who I believe are also well-organised.

“Such teams will give you the barometer to see how far you have progressed. But in the end my boys played well. It’s all about team work and self-belief. The players are beginning to believe in themselves that we can compete as well,” said Kaindu.

The Zambian coach, however, warned his players to remain focused as the league race was just beginning.

“So it’s important that we don’t get big headed. It’s still early in the season.  We haven’t achieved anything yet. So we are focusing on our next fixture, which is our priority.

“Yes we are in a position where everybody did not expect us at this stage, especially after fighting relegation last year,” he said.