CAPS United assistant coach Mark Mathe has called for calm from supporters following the team’s dip in form of late where they have managed just two points from their last three matches.
BY HENRY MHARA
The Castle Lager Premier Soccer League second-placed side suffered a humiliating 3-1 defeat to Bulawayo City on Sunday, after back-to-back goalless draws with FC Platinum and Hwange.
The three-match winless streak has left the Harare giants five points off log leaders FC Platinum, with 10 matches remaining in the season.
They face a rejuvenated Mutare City at the National Sports Stadium on Saturday, in a match the Lloyd Chitembwe-coached side are now desperate to win to refocus their title push.
“The fans shouldn’t be worried too much about what happened in the last three games,” Mathe said. “Sometimes you get worried then you lose focus. These things happen in football and there shouldn’t be any alarm bells. We got to play 30 games this season and there is no way we were going to win all those games. It was a setback, a wake-up call, but we have to work on the shortcomings and try to improve in the next game.”
The former Highlanders coach said, however, conceding three goals against Bulawayo City was a cause of concern. “We admit it wasn’t good to concede three goals, it’s unlike us because we usually concede a ratio of zero to just one goal, so three was just too much. We have spoken to the boys and we are working on the defensive aspects of our game and we hope to see an improvement going forward.”
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Reports of player discontent due to late payment of salaries and bonuses have emerged, but Mathe trashed the claims, declaring that all was well in camp.
Caps are facing a Mutare City side who are on the rise, after picking eight points from a possible 12 which has seen them moving just above the relegation cut-off point.
“I respect their coach Taku Shariwa who is a personal friend of mine. I think he has done wonders, never mind their current position on the log. They are fighting a cause, to avoid relegation and that renders them very dangerous. We will treat them professionally and try our best to get a result.”
The good news in the Caps United camp is the return to full fitness of Tafadzwa Rusike, who has been out for the last few matches due to a groin injury.
The midfielder trained with the squad yesterday, and was heavily involved throughout the session.
“He is doing fine, although he is still being monitored by the medical staff but he trained well today with high intensity We still to see but they are responding well and by Friday we should be in a clearer picture to make a decision whether to select him or not,” said Mathe.
On the team’s title ambitions, Mathe said, “We want to compete well in 2016 and we are doing that. We still have 10 games to go so we need to take it one game as it comes and not to be too concerned with what is happening in other camps.”
