Gunners captain Pardon Chinungwa said they are looking to capitalise on Caps United’s poor form and get maximum points when the two clubs meet in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Larfarge on Sunday.
Chinungwa was speaking at a Press conference yesterday where the former champions unveiled Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation chairman Godwills Masimirembwa as their patron.
Caps have beaten Gunners only twice in 10 previous meetings. Last season, the match between the two sides was abandoned after Caps United fans threw missiles onto the pitch with their team trailing 2-0.
The match was subsequently given to Gunners on a 3-0 scoreline. The reverse fixture ended in a 0-0 stalemate.
“Caps are not yet settled and they don’t look to have a formula at the moment, so we have to capitalise on that. We didn’t start well ourselves but we managed to get a win last weekend against Monomotapa so the team is motivated for this one. We are going out for all the three points,” said Chinungwa.
Caps manager Sean Connor admitted that he was feeling the pressure, but has once again appealed to the team’s supporters to be patient.
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The former Cup Kings have not won a single match this season and the only maximum set of points they got was through the boardroom. They lost to Chicken Inn, were held by Shabanie Mine and Harare City before they got three points after Motor Action decided not to turn up for their match.
This sequence of results has infuriated Caps United supporters, some of whom are already calling for the manager’s head.
Speaking at his weekly Press conference in the capital yesterday, Connor said he is beginning to feel the heat at Caps United. The Irish coach however said it was too early to judge him.
“To be honest with you, all the pressure is on me but there is nothing I can do about it. The pressure created is normal because of the supporters’ expectations. I understand the fans’ frustrations but they should not judge me on these few results. People should judge me at the end of the season; at the end of two years. I promise them that the team will be in a better position this season than they were last year,” said Connor.
He added: “I’m appealing to the fans to get behind the team and not to shout at players. If they want to have a go at anyone, it should be me and not the players.”
Following last week’s 1-1 draw against Harare City, assistant coach Lloyd Chitembwe was elevated to the hot seat leaving the Irishman as technical director, although that remains to be seen if the new arrangement will work.
Team director Farai Jere also took a swipe at the players, demanding they shape up and start winning.
On Sunday’s game Connor said: “I have watched Gunners play. They play with energy and they attack in numbers. They are coming into the match with their confidence high. For us it’s not a problem, we will do our best to win the match. We are doing everything right. What we just need is a result.”