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Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
CAPS United’s recent misfortune, in which Malawian defender George Nyirenda scored own goals in two successive games against FC Platinum, has caught the attention of President Mugabe.
The Green Machine were hammered 0-6 by the platinum miners in the Commander Zimbabwe National Army Charity Shield final at Mandava on September 6 with Nyirenda firing past his ’keeper.

CAPS United also lost 0-1 to the same team, the following week, in the Chibuku Super Cup quarter-finals and, once again, Nyirenda beat his ’keeper Tafadza Dube in a bid to clear his lines.

President Mugabe, whose sons Robert (Jnr) and Bellarmine Chatunga are CAPS United fans and have watched the Green Machine in action on a number of occasions, used the team’s recent spate of own goals during a light moment at State House yesterday.

He was addressing delegates at the lighting of the torch, for the African Union Sports Council Region Five Under-20 Youth Games, ceremony.
The President was challenging athletes, who will represent the country in the Regional Games to do well, and score goals in the opponents’ nets.

“To the participants, the Games will provide affirmation of empowerment at both personal and collective level,” President Mugabe said.
“Apart from enhancing health, wellness and quality of life, participation in these Games also develops skills such as teamwork, goal-getting and the pursuit of excellence.

“Goal getting, we must shoot accurately. The ball must always be shot into the net, not into our own net . . . CAPS, CAPS what did you do? My boys support CAPS.
“They lost by own goal score, just the one against the team they were playing, sad.

“It was a one (zero) win by the team through the own goal. Aaaa . . . kana mudzimai haakubikire sadza musi wacho.”
Robert and Chatunga were presented with CAPS United replica jerseys this year when they attended the first leg of the Harare Derby at the National Sports Stadium in July.

CAPS United lost 0-1.
CAPS United president, Twine Phiri, said it was humbling to note that the President was following his team’s progress on the domestic Premiership.
“It’s very humbling that His Excellency President Mugabe has been following how we have been doing as a team and misfortune that has stalked us in the past few games,” said Phiri.

“I think the boys will draw a lot of inspiration to do better, in our remaining assignments, and I think they will try by all means to avoid the kind of mistakes that have seen us concede own goals against FC Platinum.

“We are still in the running for the league championship and if we win most of our remaining games we have a very good chance because it’s a tough league and any team can drop points and you never know what will happen in the next game.”