Jere psyches up players  ahead of Hwange clash Farai Jere
Farai Jere

Farai Jere

Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
CAPS UNITED owner Farai Jere yesterday spent hours with his players, taking them out for lunch and then holding talks with a number of individuals at their training session, in a bonding exercise he says is needed to keep his men on track.

The Green Machine host unpredictable Hwange in a Castle Lager Premiership tie at Rufaro tomorrow.

“I took the boys for lunch, it’s part of team building and it was good just to have them eat and laugh in my presence and giving them the message that we are together in this and we need to deliver for the fans who back us,” said Jere.

“After lunch I then followed them to their training ground and watched their entire training session at Rufaro where we play Hwange on Sunday.

“It was just refreshing to talk to the players, one by one, after their training session, to hear what are their challenges and how we can improve our relationship so that we keep moving forward.

“I could tell that they really loved it and I asked Uche (Archford Gutu) about the reports that he wants to move and he told me that it’s all media speculation and he is committed to our cause.”

Coach Lloyd Chitembwe is expecting a tough encounter against Hwange.

Makepekepe, whose home is at the National Sports Stadium, moved their base to Rufaro for this weekend’s game.

And for Makepekepe, who are sitting on second position behind Highlanders in the championship race, will be hoping for a win that might see them returning to the top of the table if the latter loses this weekend.

The two teams are separated by just two points.

Chitembwe led the Green Machine to a victory against Hwange at the Colliery last season, but is not reading much into that as he said it’s going to be a difficult game.

“We predict a very difficult game. They posted a very good result against Chicken Inn, I thought it was a very good result. And I feel they have been doing very well, maybe serve for last week when they lost to Mutare City at home.

“But they went to Triangle, they posted a very impressive result in Chiredzi. So it’s obviously going to be a very difficult game,” said Chitembwe.

The CAPS United coach conceded their encounter against Bulawayo City last week was a game of two halves as they dominated the first half while their opponents were the better side in the last half at the National Sports Stadium.

“I think these guys are professional football players and they earn a living out of playing and winning matches.

“I think they know what’s at stake and I think they are fully aware of the targets and as coaches there is always a limit to which you can motivate someone.

“But I strongly believe it’s within them to try and motivate themselves. All we do as coaches is try and come up with programmes that we feel will obviously stimulate performance and the motivational part is solely the players’ responsibility,” said Chitembwe.

While CAPS United would want to remain among the leading pack in the championship race, it’s not going to be a stroll in the park.

Hwange, who are coming from a goalless draw against Chicken Inn at the Colliery, will be hoping to pick some points having started the season slowly.

Their coach, Mebelo Njekwa, said they will be cautious in their approach to the match.

“It’s a very cautious approach because if we look at it we are missing a lot of chances. CAPS are scoring nearly every game.

“So, looking at this game, we are very cautious.

“We have respect for them, last season they beat us in the (NetOne) OneWallet game and in a league game, so we respect them for that.

“But we are not pushovers. We are looking at coming out with something in that game.

“We have got a positive attitude even though things are tough. The attitude and focus is very positive, it’s a sign that we can come out with something,” said Njekwa.

Hwange have won four games, drawn two and lost five.

“There is a lot of pressure looking at this game. There is fatigue, we have played three games in seven days.

“If it was at the National Sports Stadium it was going to be worse. But Rufaro has been a good hunting ground for us,” said Njekwa.

From their four wins, two of them were away against Triangle in Chiredzi and against Border Strikers.

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