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Tadious Manyepo-Sports Reporter

CASTLE Lager Premier Soccer League teams CAPS United and Herentals haven’t started the season the way they would have wanted.

Makepekepe have already dropped two points in their opening two games this season, having beaten Manica Diamonds 2-0 before labouring to a goalless draw at Ngezi Platinum last weekend.

On the other hand, Herentals have picked just one point in two games after their opening day 1-0 defeat to Triangle at Gibbo before a 1-1 draw against new boys GreenFuel at the same venue in their second match.

It has been particularly difficult for The Students who had to travel twice to Triangle within seven days.

They will play their first home match at the National Sports Stadium against Manica Diamonds this afternoon.

CAPS United will also be back at the giant facility when they host ZPC Kariba on Sunday hoping to recover from the hump they encountered at Baobab last weekend.

And besides the need to cover up lost ground, both the Green Machine and Herentals have an extra motivation to deliver.

Their owners attempted, for the first time, to run for political office and they posted victories too.

CAPS United president Farai Jere and his Herentals counterpart Innocent Benza both took part in the ZANU-PF primary elections held last weekend for the right to represent their respective constituencies in the upcoming harmonised elections.

And they came out good with Jere winning in Murehwa West while Benza was victorious in Mutasa Central.

The two are still in a celebratory mood and their respective teams will cap a good week for them if they win their matches starting with Herentals this afternoon.

Herentals striker Blessing Majarira, who also hails from Makoni Central, said they can’t afford to spoil their president’s mood.

“As Herentals, we are very happy for our president and my fellow striker Innocent Benza for the success story he wrote in the ZANU-PF primary elections held last weekend,” said Majarira.

“We have to spice the celebrations with a win over Manica Diamonds on Friday (today). Look, we have started the season on a low note. We are looking forward to getting going against Manica Diamonds.”

Benza, who at 51 is the oldest player in the top-flight across the world, will also be expected to play a part in the match against Manica Diamonds today.

Innocent Benza

Makepekepe players are also an excited lot.

They have no complaints to do with renumeration like they had been used to over the past year.

And with club owner Jere also triumphant in political office last week, they will be eager to do well against ZPC Kariba at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday.

Winger Phineas Bamusi said the Green Machine will go all out to get the maximum points against the Darlington Dodo-coached team.

“Obviously, club president Farai Jere is still in a celebratory mood just like we are as well and we can’t spoil it (for him). So for him to continue celebrating, we should also win on Sunday,” said Bamusi.

“We know it’s still early days in the league but being CAPS United, we need to show that we are a big team with big ambitions.

“We had a very bad season last term as a team and this is the best time to atone for those disappointments endured by the team and the fans.

“ZPC Kariba are never a team that anyone can underrate. But we are playing at home and we are going all out for the three points.

“Of course, ZPC Kariba haven’t conceded a goal just like us this season but they were not playing against us.

“We believe in our capabilities as CAPS United. If you look at the quality that we have as CAPS United, I don’t think it will be good or fair to go for two successive games without winning and scoring considering that we fired blanks against Ngezi Platinum last weekend.

“I am sure on Sunday, we will be able to bang the goals and pocket the points”

Bamusi said the operating environment, unlike the corresponding period last year, is conducive and players are eager to do well.

“The environment has been very good and conducive from the first day. I think we started our pre-season on January 16 and everything has been very good. Club authorities have been making sure that we have free minds going for work.

“We just hope and pray that things remain like that until the end of the season. It is up to us as players to deliver in the field of play.”