TROUBLED Harare giants Caps United will be seeking to gain a measure of revenge when they host giant killers How Mine in a potentially explosive Castle Lager Premiership football tie at Rufaro Stadium on Sunday.
TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA
The gold miners have been known for reserving their best for the so-called big teams since they gained promotion into the top-flight last season.
All the Big Three — Dynamos, Highlanders and Caps United —have suffered shock defeats to How Mine in previous meetings in various league and cup encounters.
Caps United in particular still have painful memories of their last meeting with How Mine in the league in May this year as the gold miners ran out 2-0 winners at Luveve Stadium.
Former Dynamos veteran midfielder Wonder Sithole and striker Kuda Musharu scored a goal each as How Mine, then under the guidance of Philani Ncube, bagged maximum points.
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But How Mine now have a new mentor, Luke Masomere, who will be eager to maintain that good run against their more illustrious opponents.
Masomere — appointed last month to take charge of the gold miners from army side Buffaloes — has presided over two matches.
He faced Dynamos in the Net One Wallet Cup – his first game in charge – but was booted out of the tournament with Blessing Moyo scoring a beautiful goal, good enough to contest for the goal of the tournament.
The “Doctor”, however, recovered to hand ZPC Kariba their second defeat of the season following a 3-2 win and a trip to Harare offers his side an opportunity to complete back-to-back victories over the Harare giants whose campaign is under threat after their ship hit stormy waters in the past two weeks following non-payment of salaries and allowances to players.
Those problems saw the Green Machine stuttering to a goalless draw against Bantu Rovers leaving them four points off the pace with eight matches left before the end of the campaign.
They were ruthlessly crushed 6-0 by FC Platinum in the Zimbabwe National Army Charities Shield at Mandava in Zvishavane before being edged 1-0 by the same opponents last weekend to crash out of the Chibuku Super Cup.
But confidence appears to be now back in their dressing room after the club chiefs paid players their outstanding salaries and allowances.
Caps United assistant coach Mike Madzivanyika said they were hopeful of a positive result.
“We are preparing for the match and hope to do better this time around. They beat us last time, but that was then and this is a completely different match,” said Madzivanyika.
He also said defender George Nyirenda, who has conceded two goals in two successive matches, was doing well at training and had since forgotten about that nightmare.
“He is doing fine and is ready to play. You know these things happen in football and we try not to put pressure on the players in situations like this,” he added.
Caps United though will be missing the services of defender Stephen Makatuka who was red-carded during the drawn game against Bantu Rovers.
Makepekepe – in fourth place and four points behind leaders Dynamos who are on 42 points with eight matches left before the end of the season – are aware they need to roll up their sleeves if they are to land the ultimate prize of domestic football.
Fixtures: Saturday: Chicken Inn v Bantu Rovers (Hartsfield Stadium), FC Platinum v Dynamos (Mandava Stadium), Harare City v Highlanders (Rufaro Stadium), Chiredzi v Shabanie Mine (Chishamiso Stadium) Sunday: Caps United v How Mine v (Rufaro Stadium), Buffaloes v Triangle United (Sakubva Stadium), Hwange v Chapungu (Colliery Stadium), ZPC Kariba v Black Rhinos TBA