BY TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA
HARARE City have been plunged into chaos ahead of their Chibuku Super Cup clash against rivals Caps United at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday after players boycotted training over outstanding salaries.
According to sources, the players refused to train the whole of this week demanding outstanding salaries and allowances and have even threatened to boycott the match at the weekend.
“The players have not been training this week, demanding outstanding payments. The environment is not looking good and unless something is done urgently, the players have vowed to continue with the industrial action,” the source said.
It is understood that the players and technical team had not been paid since December.
Club chief executive Tafadzwa Bhasera was yesterday said to be running around to try and address the situation.
Although he did not deny that there was a stand-off, he refused to shed light on the matter.
“If you want to write that, you can go ahead, but I have not said anything,” she said.
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The Sunshine City Boys, who won the Chibuku Super Cup in 2015, made a slow start to the competition after they were held to a 1-1 draw by ZPC Kariba in the opening match at the weekend and will be looking to making up for that with a victory over Caps United.
Harare City, then under the guidance of Taurai Mangwiro, lifted the trophy at the expense of Dynamos, which erased the pain of the 2014 final against eventual winners FC Platinum.
Former Caps United coach Lloyd Chitembwe, now with Harare City, faces his former paymasters for the second time since his unexpected departure soon after guiding the Green Machine to a 2-1 victory over Bulawayo giants Highlanders in 2019.
In their last encounter in the league, Caps United got the better of the Sunshine City Boys, who were at the time battling relegation.
The Harare City gaffer would have wanted to face off Caps United with a mentally-prepared team, but the boycott by his players in the build-up to the match could impact on their performance.
With both teams having drawn their opening matches of the tournament, stakes are likely to be high as they will be looking for maximum points to enhance their chances of winning the tournament.
Caps United might have managed a two-all draw against Yadah in the opening match on Saturday, but they have a deadly attack that includes former Harare City forwards Ismael Wadi, scorer of a brace in the match, and Tatenda Tumba, and will be out to prove a point against their former paymasters in one of the biggest matches of the weekend.
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