The ManicaPost
ESTEEMED followers of the game of football, thank you for finding time for interaction.However, the remainder of this season is going to pan out for title-chasing CAPS United, it has been a largely eventful one for the former cup kings of Zimbabwean football.
With the Green Machine still challenging for the championship, it is their in-house problems that have threatened to throw their campaign off the rails. Having loomed large over the Harare giants for the greater part of the season, the housekeeping circus enveloped the club again as the players last Saturday sat out for over half an hour of the scheduled kickoff of their Chibuku Super Cup first round tie against Tsholotsho. And the price they paid for that was elimination from the country’s premiership knockout tournament, losing 4-5 on penalties to the relegation-haunted minnows.
While this current season might have promised so much for MaKepekepe, it may just yield or deliver little if they don’t put their house in order.
If it is not the club executive failing to meet their end of the bargain, then it’s the players threatening to boycott a match over non-payment of their dues or a militant section of the club’s supporters venting out their frustration on coach, Lloyd Chitembwe when results don’t go their way.
This has been the case of CAPS United over the course of this season and is likely to be their curse, making their pastures less green.
Club president, Farai Jere, to his credit, has been fighting a seemingly lone battle in keeping the ship afloat as running the team continues to gnaw at his pockets and looks like has been doing his best under the circumstances — his frantic efforts saving the club blushes when players threatened boycotting or not fulfilling some important matches; a case in point being the chaos that rocked their Colliery trip.
But one tree cannot make a forest.
On the whole, everyone at the club will likely bear the brunt as the Green Machine continues to wobble.
Only when united can the CAPS institution stand and weather this storm. They need to pull their weight collectively and stick together in all this.
If the executive is off form in timeously paying the players their dues, would it not be prudent that players take the turn to play ball and score victory for the club both on and off the field?
Get a good grip on this one, Dear Reader: Friday Football Echoes is not in any way implying that the players should break their sweat without getting any alms, but there are times when they have to look at the bigger picture — a commitment to the club’s cause. Not that the players are being asked to work on empty stomachs, but unity of purpose may just help.
Or where is the love for the club?
A section of the club shaken by the continued conundrum in their camp suggests the players should be grateful for the opportunity of being in employment at the club and also being accorded a platform to showcase their talent.
Gamechanger is a worker, too, and sometimes get paid late, but sulking, as the CAPS players sometimes do, does not do either part any good. Sometimes players need to pepper the executive’s shortcomings so just to wear their hearts on the sleeves, put up a united front and stay focused on the job at hand. The MaKepekepe players, therefore, need to up their game in this regard. Riled by the players’ brat attitude, another segment of the club’s fans reacted angrily; charging that they pay their way into stadia not to watch players sit out matches.
Left unbridled, the plight at CAPS United risks the club undoing all the shift they have put in taking the club thus far this season. It is threatening to empty the Green Machine of fuel and bring it to a shuddering halt. Already, the rich financial rewards they stood to pick from a fruitful run in the Chibuku Super Cup went away with their elimination at the first hurdle.
Also, will this not hurt their sustained assault on the league title, for which they are still in the running? It would be remarkable if CAPS United drag themselves over the finishing line against the backdrop of the problems that continue to bedevil their camp. Anything, however, can happen in this game.
There is strength in unity and they have to pull in the same direction for the benefit of all parties involved.
The CAPS institution simply has to be united, especially at this moment in time of their history. It calls for everyone to now keep the shoulder to the wheel. Or do they want to watch and allow this season to pass them by, yet another barren campaign?
Who needs enemies when a club can pull itself down the way CAPS United are doing!
Blistering start to the EPL season
Only five games old, the 2016-17 English Premier League has had several taking points already, with some truly memorable sounds and sights.
Jose Mourinho has stuttered in Manchester United’s last two games and has not been helped by record-signing Paul Pogba’s false start on his return to Old Trafford, while captain Wayne Rooney also appears off colour and struggling for form. Teenage sensation, Marcus Rashford has, however, been the flickering light in that dark cloud as he has weighed in with some goals.
Pep Guardiola looks to have his revolution at Manchester City already in full motion as The Citizens appear ruthless in front of goals and plundering them in to help him maintain a perfect start to his reign at Etihad.
Jurgen Klopp has got Liverpool jogging, taking seven out of nine points from London rivals, Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea, with the German tactician purring over his side’s deserved win at Stamford Bridge and hailed the Reds’ “football from hell.” They, however, need to strike some consistency and avoid recurrences of the tumble Burnley’s Turf Moore’s stadium to keep the momentum going.
Everton look revitalised under Dutch mentor, Ronald Koeman and don’t look like missing the sold Jone Stones, with Romelu Lukaku and winger, Yannick Bolaise proving the firepower that everyone one Merseyside is already looking forward to the derby against cross-town rivals Liverpool.
Under Italian tactician, Antonio Conte, Chelsea are playing with renewed vigour, spurred by the combative Diego Costa, while Arsenal are also in the picture with their playing style that is easy on the eye.
The pick of the crop in this weekend’s fixtures is easily the Battle of London when Arsenal host Chelsea in a top-of-the-table clash, while another mouthwatering clash will be defending champions, Leicester City visiting Manchester United.
It’s Game On, Play On!
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