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Harrison appeals for patience from Caps fans

Sport
CAPS United coach Mark Harrison has appealed for patience, urging supporters not to expect overnight recovery at the Harare football giants, whose confidence has been boosted by a deal that ushered in businessman Farai Jere as the new owner of the club.

BY TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA

CAPS United coach Mark Harrison has appealed for patience, urging supporters not to expect overnight recovery at the Harare football giants, whose confidence has been boosted by a deal that ushered in businessman Farai Jere as the new owner of the club.

Caps United make the trip to Barbourfields for a date with unpredictable Tsholotsho on Sunday.

Jere took over from Twine Phiri after a $1,4 million debt was converted into equity, leaving him as the majority shareholder with an 80% stake, while Phiri had his stake reduced to 20%.

The development has already seen players who had not been paid their salaries and winning bonuses for some time getting their dues ahead of the trip to Barbourfields while the rest of the outstanding dues would be cleared soon.

Naturally, expectations are now high for Caps United to deliver.

However, Harrison said yesterday they needed to recover, having been struggling for fluency as they were weighed down by financial challenges.

He said the club had been in intensive care for the past two months and people should not expect a miraculous recovery.

“The coming in of Mr Jere is a good development for Caps United. We hope that is going to bring stability in the team. We had Stephen Makatuka back at training yesterday (Tuesday). But we have been in the intensive care for two to three months and you don’t expect us to recover overnight. It is a process for us to get back to where we need to be,” Harrison said.

Striker Rodreck Mutuma had also quit, but is reportedly making moves to make peace with the Green Machine with Highlanders not clearly interested in him. The Caps United gaffer, who had been threatened with eviction from his Borrowdale apartment for non-payment of rentals however, said Tsholotsho were a disciplined team which was hard to break down.

Tsholotsho, who shocked Harare City 1-0 in a season opener at Rufaro, held Dynamos to a 0-0 draw in another shock result.

“I watched Tsholotsho playing against Dynamos on Monday. They are a well organised and disciplined team. They are difficult to break down and we expect a tougher encounter. We need to avoid conceding silly goals. It will be one of our toughest encounters,” Harrison added.

Caps United are in eighth position on the league table with 16 points from 11 matches. They have won four, drawn four and lost three.

The other defeat was a 3-0 walkover by How Mine after players refused to take to the field demanding payment of outstanding salaries and allowances.

Tsholotsho are in 13th place with 10 points from the same number of matches. They have won two, drawn four and lost five.

Fixtures:

Tomorrow: Harare City v Chapungu (Rufaro Stadium)

Saturday: Chicken Inn v Buffaloes (Luveve Stadium),FC Platinum v Highlanders (Mandava Stadium),Dynamos v Triangle United ( National Sports Stadium)

Sunday: How Mine v ZPC Kariba (Luveve Stadium), Whawha v Hwange (Ascot Stadium), Tsholotsho v Caps United (Barbourfields), Flame Lily v Dongo Sawmill (Lafarge Stadium)