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Taurai Mangwiro

Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
CAPS United have said FC Platinum will see a different Green Machine to the one they humiliated last week when the two teams clash in a Chibuku Super Cup quarter-final match at Mandava this afternoon.The Green Machine return to the scene of their heaviest defeat in history eager to erase horrible memories of the 6-0 massacre by the platinum miners in the ZNA Charities final last week.

The match will serve as the main dish for the day at Mandava after organisers decided to schedule a double header at the stadium to allow for television coverage for all the matches this weekend.

Harare City and Chiredzi will warm the stage when they clash first in a lunch-hour kick-off.

Makepekepe left Harare yesterday high in spirits and with a new sense of belief after the club’s leadership addressed one of the root problems that have been affecting performances by paying players and the technical team their outstanding salaries.

The CAPS United camp was in turmoil in the last two weeks because of player unrest and the players had earlier threatened not to travel until their plight was addressed.

However, normalcy appeared to have returned to the club and team manager Luis Maio painted a good picture, arguing that the players are ready to redeem themselves.

“Obviously, morale is high in the camp because we have sorted out most of the things that were affecting us negatively.  We have solved the issues to do with the players’ money and it’s game on. Everyone is happy and focused.

“We never stopped preparing and we are looking forward to a positive result. The hunger to turn things around is there among the players and everyone at CAPS United.

“We believe we can win this match, if we carry the right attitude. This is a new game and we need to believe in ourselves.  Of course, we needed to keep these guys focused by continuously encouraging them during those difficult moments but I believe the biggest motivation in knock-out tournaments is making it to the next round.

“The more you progress the better the package you stand to get at the end of the day. So I would say this match is self-motivating.
“If we can go all the way and win the tournament, it will be well not only for the team, but for the players as well since it means more money coming their way,” said Maio.

The Green Machine are expecting to field their strongest team as coach Taurai Mangwiro has all his players available for selection, save for defender David Chipala and midfielder Moses Muchenje who is battling a knee injury.

There were doubts over their top striker Dominic Chungwa but it appears the forward has managed to shake off a nagging groin injury and is up for selection this afternoon.

Mangwiro has at his disposal most of his key men like Hardlife Zvirekwi, Tapiwa Khumbuyani, Tendai Samanja, Nicholas Alifandika, Gerald Phiri and Kelvin Bulaji.

But FC Platinum are not going to be easy opponents in their backyard.

The platinum miners coach Norman Mapeza yesterday warned Makepekepe of another bruising encounter.

FC Platinum have a strong squad and have recently welcomed back from injury Nelson Maziwisa and Donald Ngoma to beef up their strikeforce.

Mapeza is also expected to consider some of the key players like Thabani Kamusoko, Qadr Amini, Mitchelle Katsvairo, Allen Gahadzikwa and Raymond Sibanda who missed last week’s game.

“As I have said, this is a new ball game altogether and we are going to approach it as such. We have been talking to the players about it and I don’t expect anyone to be complacent.

“I am sure CAPS United have done their homework and they now know what went wrong last week. So we expect them to be competitive again.

“They are a big team, at the end of the day we have to be prepared for them. We have a few knocks but we will assess the concerned players later to see if they can be available for the match,” said Mapeza.

FC Platinum thumped CAPS United for a half-a-dozen-goals last week with Zambian import Obrey Chirwa netting a hat-trick.

But CAPS United have blamed the heavy defeat partly to the “unfair” treatment they got from referee Rugare Kusosa and had three of their men — Zvirekwi, George Nyirenda and Chipala – sent off.
Chibuku Super Cup Fixtures

Today: Chiredzi v Harare City (Mandava, 1:00pm), FC Platinum v CAPS United (Mandava, 3:00pm)

Tomorrow: How Mine v Highlanders (Hartsfield)

Monday: Black Rhinos v Triangle United (Ascot)