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Worse yet to come: Caps players threaten bosses

Sport
A SENIOR player at Caps United says things will further deteriorate at the Premiership football club if their outstanding salaries and winning bonuses

A SENIOR player at Caps United says things will further deteriorate at the Premiership football club if their outstanding salaries and winning bonuses are not paid.

HENRY MHARA SPORTS REPORTER

The Green Machine’s camp has been burning in recent weeks owing to financial problems with some players skipping training sessions and boycotting matches pressing for what is owed to them by the club.

The team reportedly refused to board the team bus to Bulawayo for a league match last Wednesday demanding their dues before they were persuaded to travel, but the problems at the Green Machine were then firmly exposed on Saturday in the ZNA Charity Shield final at Mandava.

Caps were crushed 6-0 by hosts FC Platinum with three of their players receiving red cards.

A senior player told NewsDay Sport that they were owed salaries and winning bonuses for the months of July and August.

He said the situation could further deteriorate into a crisis if the club would not act expeditiously and settle the outstanding bill.

“They cannot expect us to perform on empty stomachs. We are owed a lot of money and we cannot pay rentals and school fees for our children and siblings. We cannot concentrate during matches because of these problems and the supporters should not expect any better results. Things can actually turn for the worse if the situation is not addressed quickly,” the player said.

“What is worrying us the most is that the board is not even willing to come and address us on the problems with our salaries. They should at least come and address us so that they can give us a plan on how they intend to pay us.”

Another player said the dressing room is deeply divided because of some reports that certain key players (names supplied) are receiving their monthly allowances.

“We know that there are some players who are not owed anything, whose salaries are up to date because they are regarded as key players in the team. They think we don’t know that. We will let those play and see if the team will win. We are on a go-slow,” the player said.

Caps United owner Twine Phiri, who is also the Premier Soccer League (PSL) chairman, yesterday admitted that he owes his players money, but said there were plans to offset the bill this week.

“We owe them, but that cannot be a reason to boycott training and games or fail to perform because we will still pay them. We don’t have the money at the moment, but in the end, they will receive it. That issue should not stop the team from winning the championship or winning cup matches they are still involved in. We are working on something and they will receive their money this week,” Phiri said.

The players were expected at training this morning at their base at Lafarge Stadium ahead of the Chibuku Super Cup quarter-final match this weekend.

The draw for the matches will be conducted in the capital this afternoon.

The other remaining teams in the competition are Highlanders, How Mine, Black Rhinos, Triangle, Chiredzi, FC Platinum and Harare City.

PSL chief executive Kenny Ndebele said: “We are going to conduct the draw for the Chibuku Super Cup quarter-final on Tuesday [today]. The remaining eight teams will go into one pot. The draw will be in the afternoon at Warren Park One Beerhall and the venues for the matches will be advised after the draw.” The PSL boss added that the matches would be broadcast on SuperSport, who have been covering the cricket tri-series between Zimbabwe, South Africa and Australia, with the venues to be determined by the movement of the broadcasting equipment.

There will be no midweek matches and, according to Ndebele, they were planning to have the cup games played from Friday to Sunday. Bulawayo giants Highlanders progressed to the quarter-finals after defeating Shabanie Mine 1-0 while How Mine overcame Chicken Inn by the same scoreline, with Triangle elbowing out Hwange 4-3 on penalties.

Chiredzi FC booted out army side Buffaloes following a 4-3 victory while Black Rhinos sent Dynamos reeling out of the tourney after handing them a 1-0 defeat.

Winners of the trophy are set to walk away with $75 000 while the losing finalists will take home $50 000. The two losing semi-finalists will each pocket $25 000 while teams that get knocked out at the quarter-final stage will walk away $20 000 richer.

The teams that were knocked out of the competition are guaranteed $15 000 each.