Trouble in CAPS United

By The NewsDay | Oct. 8, 2013 | 3 Min read

CAPS United insisted last night that Taurai Mangwiro remains the club’s head coach despite his sudden resignation on Sunday night after the 3-1 loss to Shabanie Mine.

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The former Premier Soccer League champions expect Mangwiro to resume his duties today to prepare the team for Saturday’s Mbada Diamonds Cup quarter-final match against Chicken Inn at Ascot Stadium in Gweru.

Caps United, who last won the league title in 2005 under Charles Mhlauri and survived relegation last season, lie in fifth position with 36 points from 23 matches, just six points behind leaders Dynamos.

The Green Machine will only play outside Harare once in their next seven assignments to face Buffaloes at Sakubva, while they take on Chicken Inn, How Mine, Black Rhinos and Harare City at the National Sports Stadium.

They will play Black Mambas at Morris Depot and the Mighty Bulls at Motor Action Sports Club.

Mangwiro sensationally quit on Sunday night after a 3-1 beating by Shabanie Mine at Maglas and pointed fingers at some members of the executive, claiming sabotage and unpaid and unhappy players as some of his major reasons.

“There are a lot of squabbles at the club which I feel affected my work and I was the biggest loser at the end of the day. I don’t see the team winning if I stay and it is in the best interest of the team that I leave. It’s not a secret that there is a lot happening behind the scenes. There is a lot of sabotage and if people want you out, they will make sure you go,” Mangwiro said on Sunday.

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Yesterday, Caps chief executive officer Joe Makuvire told NewsDay Sport that it was business as usual at the club.

“We are going to a have a Press conference tomorrow (today) at Arcadia, we will advise on the time. The situation at Caps United is the same as was prevailing on Friday (with Mangwiro in charge) and he (Mangwiro) would be coach for a long time to come.

“The meeting I had today (yesterday) with the club president (Twine Phiri) was on other critical issues that do not involve the coaches or players since it’s a Monday and they are off.

“If he (Mangwiro) resigned, he will write to Caps and we have not received any information to that effect and since we have not received anything, he should resume his duties tomorrow (today),” Makuvire said.

On being asked about Mangwiro’s allegations that he did not have a contract, Makuvire said: “Such private discussions are not for the newspapers, it’s between the employer and the employee.”

A brief timeline

August 5, 2012 — Caps United coach Sean Connor is fired after the Harare side lost 3-2 to Hwange in a league match at the Colliery. Also dismissed with Connor were his assistant Lloyd Chitembwe, welfare manager Joel Luphahla, Kennedy Nagoli and goalkeeper’s coach Richard Tswatswa

August 31, 2012 — Caps United dismiss goalkeeper Edmore Sibanda and Nyasha Mukumbi. David Sengu had been fired earlier for also leading an industrial action.

September 2, 2012 — Farai Jere, then Caps United co-director, says: “Fans chased away (coach)Moses Chunga.” He says: “So we are confronted by a number of problems; we have the executive problem, player problem and supporters problem.”

November 12, 2012 — Jere quits Caps United after a seven-year association with the club following a 3-0 loss to Dynamos in the Mbada Diamonds Cup semi-final in Bulawayo.

February 14, 2013 — Caps United fires coach Mkhuphali Masuku, his assistant Brenna Msiska and assembles a team for the new season. Mangwiro returns after paying the fine for his involvement in the Asiagate match-fixing scandal.

February 14, 2013 — Captain Tapiwa Khumbuyani, his assistant Washington Pakamisa, Shingi Kawondera, Asani Nhongo, Itai Chiwara, Nqobile Mpala and Luckson Kaisa are fired for leading an industrial action. Kumbuyani is later forgiven. September 20, 2013 — Caps United players go on strike over salaries, go to Jere’s offices and are reportedly snubbed October 6, 2013 — Mangwiro quits Caps United