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HAPPY PEOPLE . . . CAPS United’s double scorer, Leonard Fiyado, leads the celebrations as his teammates (from left) Tafadzwa Mahori, Kenneth Bulaji and Ronald Pfumbidzai join in the fun at Rufaro yesterday

Augustine Hwata Sports Reporter
CAPS Utd……(3) 3
Chiredzi………….0CAPS United coach Taurai Mangwiro says Gishon Ntini got what he deserved as the Green Machine crushed lightweights Chiredzi FC to breathe life into their challenge for the Castle Lager Premiership title at Rufaro yesterday.

The rebellious newboys forced kick-off to be delayed by 15 minutes with match officials rightly arguing that the Chiredzi technical staff, who did not have licences, should not sit on the bench.

Ntini, the team manager, medic and physiotherapist did not have licences and, in the chaos that followed, the nomadic coach summoned his men, who had taken up positions to get the game underway, off the pitch, threatening to walk away.

When order was restored, thanks to the intervention of match commissioner Brighton Mudzamiri, the visitors crumbled in the first half and, given that an abandoned game would have been given to CAPS United on a 3-0 scoreline, maybe Ntini was right that they start the journey back to the Lowveld earlier than scheduled.

There is no love lost between Mangwiro and Ntini with the CAPS United gaffer unhappy that the latter has allegedly been sniping at his job, in the background, on the occasions things were not looking good at the Green Machine.

Goals by Kenneth Bulaji, with a little bit of help from some comedy from the Chiredzi ‘keeper Brighton Chapula who, somehow, fumbled a soft header, and a double by substitute Leonard Fiyado, the second from a penalty, settled this contest.

CAPS United, as they have so often done all season, disappeared in the second half although Mangwiro will argue that there were good chances, including a golden one that was blown by Bulaji, to win this game with a rugby score.

“I think this victory was a very good present for Ntini after he was said to have been going behind my back and seeking to unseat me from my job,” said Mangwiro.

“We needed to bounce back and put behind us the sad situation from Hwange and I am sure the response by the boys was fine despite us missing a number of our regular players.

“I am happy to have got all three points. It is important that we keep within touching distance of the leading pack. The war is still on.”

CAPS United are now in third place and well positioned to strike in the championship race.

Surprise packets ZPC Kariba lead the race with 35 points while Dynamos are second because of an inferior goal difference and Bosso have dropped to fourth position.

Bulaji, who continues to impress with his superb technique, put his side ahead with Chapula making a feeble attempt to convince referee Brighton Chimene that he had saved the effort but the match official didn’t even need goalline technology to rule that the hosts had scored.

Fiyado, who came in for the injured Dominic Chungwa, then doubled the lead in the 44th minute when he headed in a tantalising cross by Takudzwa Mahori from the right channel.

The celebrations had barely died among the CAPS United fans when Chiredzi skipper David Sengu, appearing overweight, fouled Bulaji in the box and, as the last man, had to go because this was a professional foul.

Fiyado stepped to fire home just before the break.

CAPS United created a host of scoring opportunities after the break but the Green Machine could not increase their tally while Chiredzi also had their few chances that went to waste.

Ntini said there were underhand manoeuvres to frustrate him at his job at Chiredzi.

“If the PSL do not like us, they must just tell us. In each and every game they do this (ask for licences).  The PSL should not talk about licences when someone had been coaching from January to December. I wonder why the issue of licences is being brought up now and that I should not sit on the bench,” said Ntini.

Ntini was almost ejected in their match against Chicken Inn after failing to produce his licence.

“There are people who are not even qualified and are being allowed to coach. Each and every game we are facing the same problem and we wonder why the rules are being applied selectively on us. So we did not lose this game on the field of play but we lost it somewhere away from the field. “If these people (PSL) treat us fairly, we will survive.

Maybe the next thing would be that they will not allow us to use the eleven players. Maybe they will limit us to use only two or one player.

“Losing a game is not an issue, according to my plan, everything is still under control and we have some games still play,” said Ntini.