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Eddie Chikamhi Senior Sports Reporter

Harare City………… (0) 1

CAPS United…………… 0

IT could have been dubbed CAPS United versus Makepekepe, given the number of players and coaches on both sides, who share the Green Machine identity.

Probably, there were even more such players, and coaches, fighting for the Harare City cause, than those who were featuring for CAPS United.

With Lloyd Chitembwe, Tostao Kwashi, Nelson Matongorere, Zvikomborero Bizeki, Clive Rupiya and Moses Muchenje, the Harare City team looked more like Makepekepe.

In the end, it was Chitembwe and his men, who found a way to win this Chibuku Super Cup match, at the National Sports Stadium, yesterday.

The Green Machine no longer have their fate in their hands, in the tournament, after they slumped to defeat, against the 10-man City.

They succumbed to a 59th minute header from defender Marshal Machazane.

That the winning goal was scored by a former Dynamos defender only amplified the pain in the CAPS United camp.

The Sunshine Boys still found a way of winning, despite the widespread reports of player unrest, which robbed them of training time when football returned, from the Covid-19 break.

Chitembwe’s men brightened their chances, of a quarter-final berth, by climbing into second place.

Makepekepe tumbled down into fifth place on the Group One table.

With nine points in the bag, and a game in hand, Harare City are still some distance behind runaway leaders Dynamos, who have virtually won the group, after amassing 17 points.

Makepekepe remained with seven points from seven starts.

They have been averaging a point per game.

“We are still going to fight because there are still three games to go,” said CAPS United coach Darlington Dodo.

“You never know what will happen. Mind you, all the teams are going to play each other. So, we still need to keep ourselves in the race, we need to remain focused, in terms of what we want to achieve.

“Who knows what happens in the end?

“I am just going to urge these boys to take it up from where they left, especially from that good first half.’’

After a goalless first half, in which both teams had few scoring opportunities, Harare City broke the deadlock when Machazane reacted the fastest, to a ball swung in from a corner kick, taken by Emmanuel Mandiranga.

Just before that, Clive Rupiya had watched in disbelief his shot, from an angle, grazed the CAPS United woodwork, and bounced back into play.

CAPS failed to benefit from their numerical advantage, after Harare City defender Innocent Zambezi, was sent off, for a second bookable offence.

Chitembwe, who is a CAPS United legend, was a happy man.

“I have a moral responsibility, and a professional responsibility wherever I go, to make sure that I deliver,’’ said Chitembwe.

“Obviously, I feel very good with the win.

“This was a result which, to me was very important, not necessarily from the performance viewpoint but I would want to give credit to the boys.

“They applied themselves very well, considering the fact that we only had less than 12 hours of training, and it was very interesting for me to observe how they were going to apply themselves considering that we last played competitive football, three months ago.

“I am very happy with what I saw.

“They made some technical mistakes and I am sure it all goes down to the fact that we had very little training time.

“But, mentally, I think they were up to that level we expected from them.

“We are in there to compete, we are in there to try and win games. I think we are in good space right now and we are happy to be where we are.’’

The result is likely to pile more pressure on Dodo.

Teams

Harare City: P. Chigumba, B. Musaka, Z. Bizeki, M. Machazane, I. Zambezi, H. Chapusha, T. Tavengwa, D. Masukuta (M. Muchenje, 76th min), C. Rupiya, E. Mandiranga, J. Chipangura (K. Musharu, 66th min)

CAPS United: T. Munditi, M. Nyenye, B. Mpofu, C. Mavhurume, E. Karembo, T. Pio, R. Chitiyo (, J. Thulani, P. Bhamusi (T. Tumba, 70th min), I. Nyoni, C. Augusto (S. Nhivi, 70th min)