DURING the first half of the season, Caps might not have imagined that their fixture against Castle Lager Premier Soccer League debutants Ngezi Platinum Stars tomorrow would cause so much anxiety and unease in its potential to cause grief among members of the Green Machine family.
BY KEVIN MAPASURE
With two matches to go Ngezi Platinum Stars, a small but rich team from Mhondoro, stands tall in Caps United’s wake ready to throw spanners in the works of the giants’ championship quest.
Based on their form in the first half of the season, Ngezi Platinum were supposed to be a team that Caps United would easily brush aside, particularly at the National Sports Stadium, without breaking any sweat, but not anymore.
A lot is at stake for Caps United who are on the brink of their fifth title leading rivals FC Platinum and Highlanders by two and four points on the league table respectively.
While Caps United will be grappling with the Ngezi potential banana skin at the National Sports Stadium, both Highlanders and FC Platinum will be attempting to take control of their own destiny when they clash at Mandava tomorrow.
In other circumstances, the Mandava clash would have been the match of the day, but it is Ngezi’s revival under Tonderai Ndiraya coupled with Caps potentially lifting the championship that has thrust the National Sports Stadium ahead in terms of interest.
Two results tomorrow afternoon can give Caps United the biggest prize of the season.
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If Caps United win against Ngezi Platinum with FC Platinum dropping points in either a draw or defeat the Green Machine will party.
But a draw in both matches will ensure another anxiety filled week as the title would be decided on the last day when Caps play Chapungu, while FC Platinum travel to Bulawayo to face Tsholotsho as Highlanders host Hwange.
Caps United have not lost at the National Sports Stadium for a little more than a year, but they know that Ngezi Platinum Stars can break that unbeaten streak.
This is the same team that defeated Highlanders at Barbourfields Stadium in a cup match and went on to wallop FC Platinum 3-1 in the final of that competition.
Before that they derailed FC Platinum’s title charge after holding their fellow platinum miners 1-1 in a league match.
Those three results alone will be enough to give Caps and its fans a clearer picture of what they can expect.
Ndiraya has with him a host of former Dynamos players, who will be eager to inflict pain on the Caps United stars.
Among those is defender Patson Jaure, midfielder Walter Mukanga as well as the striking duo of Kelvin Bulaji and Washington Pakamisa.
Caps United on the other hand have had a good run and have developed a knack finishing off matches powerfully.
The 3-3 draw against Dynamos at the same venue quickly comes to mind where they rallied from 3-0 down on 85 minutes to snatch a draw.
They also finished strongly against How Mine at the same venue to go on and win the match 3-2.
They have both the experience and expertise particularly in the midfield where they are lavished with the talents of Joel Ngodzo, Tafadzwa Rusike, Pheneas Bhamusi, Devon Chafa and Abbas Amidu.
Veteran striker Leonard Tsipa, who is chasing the Golden Boot, has claimed headlines of late leading Caps’ charge from the front.
He will be hustling and bustling again tomorrow seeking to ensure that the party kicks off other than to wait for another week, or another year.
The match has got all the ingredients of a thriller, and for only those 90 minutes the fans will be hoping the rains stay away.
