Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo-Zimpapers Sports Hub
CAPS United players apologised to the club’s owner, Farai Jere, for their loss to Bulawayo Chiefs in a Castle Lager Premiership match and promised to make amends for the loss in the Harare Derby.
The players told the Harare businessman that they were sorry for the 0-1 defeat which saw the chasing pack, led by Hardrock, reduce their lead at the top of the standings to just a point, going into the Derby.
It has been dubbed the ‘Derby De Bus’ after Harare businessman Wicknell Chivayo spiced it up by offering the Glamour Boys the glamour prize of a luxury team bus, estimated to cost at least US$200,00, should they beat the Green Machine.
“The players came to me and told me that they were sorry for the loss at the hands of Bulawayo City,” said club president, Farai Jere, yesterday.
“For me, this shows passion and professionalism, they know that their job is to win matches and our job is to ensure that we provide them with the right environment to do their job.
“They recognise that we have been providing them with all the necessary tools and they were genuinely hurt by the way we lost against Chiefs and that’s the spirit I want to see in our team.
“It means they are going to give everything that they have when we meet Dynamos, who have a good team and are a club which we respect very much.”
The Glamour Boys have meticulously been stuffing up every gap ahead of the Harare Derby with the club leadership yesterday taking time to address players before witnessing the entire morning training session. The players appeared to be taking advantage of the Derby stakes and sought to get the executive to pay off their outstanding sign-on fees by threatening to stage a sit-in.
But, to their credit, the DeMbare bosses acted swiftly and addressed their concerns ensuring an uninterrupted schedule for coach Genesis Mangombe and his charges.
Cameroonian goalkeeper Finia Nfor, who has been out for over a month after undergoing a jaw operation following his injury in a match against Simba Bhora, had his specialised fitness drills with Conditioning Coach Thulani Munzabwa.
Dynamos chief executive, Desmond Bvute, said:
“It’s all systems go at Dynamos. There was absolutely no threat of a sit-in by the players.
“I can tell you that the players addressed their concerns through the right channels on Tuesday, asking the manager (Ronald Sibanda) to reach out to the executive. We acknowledge that we paid some of the players partly in sign-on fees. We are up to date when it comes to salaries, allowances and winning bonuses.
“They needed clarity on the sign-on fees part. That’s why we, as the executive, decided to come here at the training venue to make things clear for them.
“They have already started receiving the outstanding sign-on fees and the process is ongoing. We are really committed to fulfil our obligations as the club executive.”
Coach Mangombe said the Glamour Boys’ preparations were going on well and he is optimistic the blue half of the city will be smiling by sunset on Sunday. “As the coach, I am very happy that the executive, including chairman Vincent Chawonza, secretary-general Divine Sena and chief executive Bvute have come to address the players before we started training.
‘‘That’s no small amount of motivation. The players need that ahead of a big match against our rivals CAPS United, who are also on top of the log.
“Their presence during the training session means a lot to the players and the technical staff. We really feel appreciated.
‘‘ We are keen to go out there and showcase the Dynamos spirit. This is Dynamos and there is a lot at stake when we face CAPS United.”
Dynamos have also bulked up winning bonuses for the match against CAPS United.
