adminof the man he replaced at CAPS United, Maxwell Takaendesa Jongwe was a refreshing island of coolness yesterday.
Just two games into his new job as the Green Machine coach, Jongwe has felt the full weight of the pressure that comes with coaching a CAPS United camp desperate to end half-a-dozen years of waiting for the league championship.
The unrest among the CAPS United fans, which forced the abandonment of their league match against Gunners when they were trailing 0-2, gave Jongwe a timely reminder of how quickly things can deteriorate at Makepekepe.
Accusations by Chunga, who used his H-Metro column to label Jongwe a shameless back-stabber and unprincipled coach who clandestinely campaigned for his job, rubbed salt into the wounds of a gaffer still to adjust to the pressure of leading such a big team.
Chunga charged that while other coaches were sympathising with his plight at the Green Machine, where a militant section of the fans didn’t want him, Jongwe was busy in an underground operation to have him fired.
Having won his personal battle against Jongwe, with Gunners taking four points in back-to-back matches, Bambo can be given the benefit of the doubt to pour out his frustrations.
And Jongwe, to his credit, has handled it well by choosing not to plunge into a war of words with his predecessor, especially with a big battle against Dynamos on the horizon.
Yesterday CAPS United and Dynamos both trained at the National Sports Stadium, just a stone’s throw from each other, but it was clear that the pressure of the big match was building up.
CAPS United are on a bad run, without a win in four matches, and Jongwe knows that, no matter what has happened in the past, a win in the 68th edition of the Harare Derby will make him a hero among the fans.
Jongwe will be without defenders Edmore Chafungamoyo and David Sengu, sent off in the match against Gunners, but striker Evans Gwekwerere, whose status ahead of the match has been a subject of speculation, will be available.
The Green Machine lost the first game against DeMbare 0-1 through a late strike by midfielder Tawanda Muparati at the same venue last month, which effectively ceded the bragging rights to the blue half of the capital.
Since then, CAPS have crashed out of the BancABC Sup8r Cup, changed coaches, and lost to Gunners.
But, if there is a result that can change their season, it has to be a win over Dynamos.
No wonder Jongwe looked relaxed yesterday.
“Everything is okay. There are no injury worries and we are going to approach it like any other game that we have played,” he said.
“Fans must come in their numbers to support their team.”
The former Monomotapa and Kiglon mentor will be looking to end DeMbare’s dominance from last year, as CAPS United have not won a match against their opponents in their last five meetings.
Four of the games, which included two league encounters in the two seasons, last year’s BancABC Sup8r Cup final and the pre-season Bob 87 Cup, ended in defeats for the Green Machine.
CAPS United are still recovering from the effects of their supporters’ violent conduct, which marred their game against Gunners and have since apologised to the Premier Soccer League and pleaded with their fans to be responsible. Jongwe is set to welcome midfielder David Rediyoni from injury while newcomers Tendai Samanja, Asani Nhongo and Tapiwa Kumbuyani could be options to fill the vacant positions in defence.
But midfielder Ashley Rambanapasi, who returned to his old team, missed the session at the main arena.
Dynamos were a stone’s throw away at the B arena and defender Guthrie Zhokinyi, who is now available for the derby after missing the club’s last three games while sorting out contract issues with the management, said they are not banking on the sides’ current form or previous records.
Zhokinyi’s contract had ended on June 30 and he has since penned a fresh one-year deal.
“This is a derby and history has it that derbies can be tricky. CAPS have their strengths and we have ours but most of the time that does not count in such games.
“The bottom line, however, is that we are going all out for three points.
“Any gun can shoot on the day and we are working hard for it,” said Zhokinyi.
Dynamos occupy third place on the log standings with 26 points from 16 games and a win will help them keep pace with the leading pair of FC Platinum (33 points) and Motor Action (31).
CAPS are seventh with 22 points, and they need the points more than their rivals.
Premiership moneybags FC Platinum will be in the city tomorrow seeking to complete a double over rebuilding Kiglon at Gwanzura.
But they should not expect an easy run against the Premiership ‘small boys’ who are coming from back-to-back draws against Highlanders in their last two matches.
Kiglon have lost several players during the mid-season transfer window and are starting all over again under new caretaker coach Pearson Matipedza.
Defending champions Motor Action will be away at Mucheke in a tricky tie against Masvingo United on Sunday.
Fixtures
Saturday
Shooting Stars v Zimbabwe Saints (Sakubva), Gunners v Blue Ribbon (Lafarge), Monomotapa v Chicken Inn (Rufaro), Kiglon v FC Platinum (Gwanzura)
Sunday
Shabanie Mine v Black Mambas (Maglas), Dynamos v CAPS United (National Sports Stadium), Masvingo v Motor Action (Mucheke), Hwange v Highlanders (Colliery).
Online Reporter