The ManicaPost
It was a moment to savour as the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League trophy was handed over to Caps United amid some champagne popping and fireworks at Ascot Stadium in Gweru on Saturday afternoon after the Green Machine ended an 11-year barren spell that saw them failing to win the league championship for more than a decade.From the onset of the 2016 Castle Lager Premiership season, CAPS United showed determination and strength of mind albeit well pronounced financial challenges that dogged their campaign and saw the Green Machine plunging into episodes of player revolt on a number of occasions.
Elsewhere in this newspaper, we carry a story of the CAPS United coach Lloyd Chitembwe admitting that it took them more than just monetary issues to land the coveted Premiership title.
Thus, one of the finest football writers of our time Robson Sharuko wrote on his facebook page, “For me this is CAPS United’s greatest triumph because it was born out of adversity, the financial challenges they faced, the spirit they showed, not many superstars in the team but as a unit they were very strong and to cap it all it was won by a coach who is one of them, who was doubted by a section of the fans, well done Makepekepe.”
That CAPS United had to wait for 11 years places into context the joy and relief that swept across the entire CAPS United family when they finally won the league championship on Saturday.
Now that they are looking forward to compete in the Caf Champions League, a lot is still expected of them and resting on their laurels would be the last thing every other football loving Zimbabwean would expect from the Green Machine.
Indeed, it was refreshing to hear the Caps United boss, Farai Jere, who poured close to half-a-million dollars in this campaign, once again reiterated that his team will “definitely” participate in the 2017 CAF Champions League.
As the CAPS United family celebrate their latest achievement, the same cannot be said about football in Manicaland.
Mutare will have to make do without Premiership football next year after Mutare City Rovers were eventually relegated while Buffaloes, the only reasonable hope for Premiership football in Mutare, failed at the last hurdle.
While Mutare City Rovers were largely expected to wave goodbye to Premiership football, not many expected Buffaloes to fail to beat fellow Mutare uniformed forces outfit Tenax. The pain and anguish that engulfed the Mutare football family was well pronounced and manifested in wild scenes of violence that erupted soon after the match pitting Buffaloes and Tenax at Sakubva Stadium on Saturday.
The one all stalemate left Harare side Yadah Stars FC on the threshold of being promoted into the Premiership via the Eastern Region ticket and now awaits the outcome of the Premiership playoffs debate.
It will be yet another sad and forgettable year for all football loving persons in the eastern border city but probably it would also come with valuable lessons on how football should be run in order for Mutare to enjoy consistent presence in the country’s top flight league.
Some of the country’s major cities such as Bulawayo and Harare, even smaller towns such as Zvishavane enjoy consistent Premiership football action but somehow the same cannot be said of Mutare.
