CAPS United full-back Hardlife Zvirekwi — one of the most experienced members of the victorious squad that dumped five-time African Champions TP Mazembe out of the prestigious Champions League – has urged his team mates to remain humble and grounded following the weekend success and roll up their sleeves ahead of the group stage of the campaign.
BY TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA
Zvirekwi says their African football adventure is going to be tougher in the group stages and called on his teammates to work even harder.
“My word to my team mates is that it’s not going to be easy in the group stages. It will be tougher than what we faced in the first round. So we need to do more. We need to work harder. We should remain grounded and humble because it’s still a long way,” said Zvirekwi yesterday.
Caps United played a 1-1 draw in their first leg of the first round tie away in Lubumbashi and on Sunday completed the job by holding out for a 0-0 draw at the National Sports Stadium.
Zvirekwi also expressed delight to be part of the squad that managed to break the longstanding hoodoo of failure to qualify for the money-spinning phase of the tournament. He said the achievement ranks as one of the biggest feats for him and the club.
“I am excited to achieve this. I am very happy for the team, for the club and for myself. It’s one of the biggest achievements for myself and for the club. We have never reached this stage before so it’s a great thing for us as a team,” beamed Zvirekwi.
The Green Machine are now guaranteed a $550 000 pay cheque for reaching the last 16.
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The club hierarchy has promised the players $165 000 to share.
This is the first time for Caps United to reach the group stage of the prestigious competition in their history.
Qualification into this lucrative stage had become stubbornly elusive in previous attempts, with Caps United exiting the tournament in the first round in their last appearance in 2006. The Green Machine become the third Zimbabwean club after Dynamos and Monomotapa to have reached the money-spinning group stage of the competition.
Their arch-rivals Dynamos reached the group stage a record four times including in 1998 in which they went all the way to the final only to lose 2-4 to Asec Mimosas of Ivory Coast.
They then made it to the group stage in 1999 and in 2008 in which they also reached the semi-final. They also participated in the group stage in 2010.
