After a tongue-lashing from their owners on Monday, Caps United players return to life under Lloyd Chitembwe as they prepare to face Gunners at Larfarge Stadium this Sunday in a Premier Soccer League (PSL) match.
Save for the three points from a walkover against Motor Action, Caps have only managed a 0-0 draw against Shabanie Mine in the opening fixture, a 2-0 loss to Chicken Inn and last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Harare City.
That brought changes in the Green Machine technical team with Chitembwe reverting to his role as coach while Irishman Sean Connor is now the technical director.
It now remains to be seen if the former Warriors midfield hardman will change fortunes, starting with this tough encounter.
Gunners have started on a slow note, winning one, drawing the other and losing two matches and are 10th on the log, while Caps are a rung up on five points after two draws, a loss and a win.
Last week, Gunners dispatched Monomotapa 2-0 to send a message they are finding their rhythm. Club chairman Obert Chunga urged fans to come in their numbers on Sunday for the only match in the capital.
Meanwhile, Motor Action were at it again at the weekend after failing to display the Castle Lager logo during their league match against Quelaton.
They will pay a fine of $900 for the incident which club owner Eric Rosen last night described as an oversight.
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This is the second time in a space of two weeks that they have been caught on the wrong side of the law after refusing to travel to Gwanzura Stadium for a match against Caps United.
They lost the match 3-0 after a walkover was awarded to Caps in terms of the rules and regulations of the game.
Rosen is also the PSL board member for marketing and the PSL has said it will take decisive action against the club for putting the league in a bad light with sponsors.
Last week, he even attempted to charge PSL chief executive Kennedy Ndebele with bringing the game of football into disrepute after the latter refused to change the match venue from Gwanzura to Motor Action Sports Club.
Motor Action and Caps United will be first clubs to be brought before a disciplinary committee this season after the latter caused the abandonment of their match against Chicken Inn at Gwanzura, when they were down 2-0.
The Mighty Bulls, the 2010 champions, return to Harare this weekend for a date against lowly Blue Rangers hoping to continue from where they left off against Quelaton.
In other matches this weekend, FC Platinum travel to Bulawayo for a date with leaders Chicken Inn at Luveve.
The platinum miners drew 2-2 against Shabanie Mine in the Zvishavane derby in a packed Mandava Stadium and coach Rahman Gumbo will be delighted to get away from the pressure cooker before he returns for next Tuesday’s tie against Highlanders.
Chicken Inn though have proved they are no pushovers in their opening four games and will be hoping to inflict the first defeat of the season on the Bob 88 Super Cup and the Independence Trophy winners. Black Mambas and Monomotapa, both on the losing end at the weekend, clash at Morris Depot while Harare City will be looking for their second victory against winless Quelaton. Hwange face Buffaloes at the Colliery, hoping to bounce back from the 2-0 weekend loss to Hardbody.
Second-placed Shabanie Mine welcome Hardbody to Maglas and there is no doubt this will be a rich game in entertainment.
Week Five Fixtures Gunners vs Caps United, Motor Action vs Blue Rangers, Black Mambas vs Monomotapa, Harare City vs Quelaton, Chicken Inn vs FC Platinum, Hwange vs Buffaloes
