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Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
CAPS United vice-captain Stephen Makatuka believes FC Platinum’s slip was their gain after the Green Machine piled pressure on their title rivals by edging to within a point of the leaders in the championship race at the weekend.

Makepekepe beat Triangle 2-1 at Gibbo, a day after the platinum miners were held to a 1-1 draw at ZPC Kariba.

Makatuka is confident Makepekepe, who last lifted the title in 2005, have revived their quest for the title and are sitting in a very good position with eight games still to be played.

CAPS United will host Chicken Inn in their next game before travelling to ZPC Kariba for another tricky tie.

“The game (against Triangle) was made difficult in the sense that when you are in a race and then one of the teams you are probably in direct competition with plays a day earlier, whatever the result, there is bound to be pressure on your side,” said Makatuka.

“It was even tense when we conceded. But we rallied ourselves back and won the game. Those three points are very crucial.

“This is not the time to drop points. Of course, you can’t win all the games because of the competition, but you always aim to fight for at least a point.

“The message before we went to Gibbo was that we needed maximum points. We had to fight for that and fortunately we got that positive result.

“Of course it looks good for us, but there is no point getting carried away; there is no room for complacency.”

Veteran Leonard Tsipa and Kudzai Nyamupfukudza scored in the victory at Gibbo while Malvin Gaki pulled one back for the hosts.

FC Platinum should be worried with their recent form which has seen them slowing down in the last six games.

Norman Mapeza’s men have managed only one win and Saturday’s stalemate at ZPC Kariba was their fifth draw inside one month.

Bulawayo giants Highlanders are still in the picture on 38 points following their 2-1 victory over basement side Border Strikers at Dulivhadzimu.

However, their coach Erol Akbay is now singing a tune of caution about their chances of winning the title.

Elroy Akbay

“I think we played a good game at Border Strikers. What’s important is that we got three points and it really helped us edge closer to the top teams. There are eight games to play, though, which translate to 24 points.

“In a way, it’s still an open race, but I believe we are far off the pace. We are six points behind the leaders. Obviously we cannot have control over the results of our competitors.

“We can only hope they drop points along the way and we have told our boys that every game that we play is very important and we need maximum points.

“Personally, I believe that any team that scores well has the greatest potential to win the title. CAPS United and FC Platinum have shown they can do it.

“But I think FC Platinum have not done that well in the last six or so games,” said Akbay.