If there are any prospects of fallen giants CAPS United getting relegated at the end of the current season, they are there for everyone to see.
The once formidable side suffered its sixth defeat on the trot, this time to bitter rivals Dynamos at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday to slide to an unfamiliar 12th position on the log, signalling a massive slip for a team regarded as giants.
Maybe the decision by the Premier Soccer League to take a two-week mid-season break may act as a form of respite for Lloyd Chitembwe’s side which is facing REAL possibility of being relegated for the first time since independence.
“It could be mid-season, but alarm bells have rung for our team and something must be done to address the cancer before it explodes.
“The problem is financial and it should be addressed. Our players’ morale is rock bottom and the pride associated with the team is gone. The body language said it all on Sunday when we lost 3-0 to Dynamos,” said die-hard supporter Blessing Tapiwa from Warren Park in Harare.
At the other end of the table, Chicken Inn made a statement when they perched themselves to the summit of the log after a 1-0 win away to Triangle in Chiredzi with 35 points from 17 matches.
Dynamos’ thumping of CAPS enabled them to shake off in-house squabbles to stay within whispering distance off leaders Chicken Inn with a point behind.
Goals from Issa Sadiki, Ralph Kawondera and defender Frank Mukarati carried the day for the Harare giants.
Highlanders stayed on course to their revival after the departure of Mandla Mpofu with a 1-0 win over Harare City. Veteran goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda scored from the spot for the Bulawayo side who are 10th on the log and recently appointed Portugal’s Baltemar Brito as their head coach.
Norman Mapeza’s FC Platinum are in third position courtesy of a 1-0 win over Cranborne Bullets at Sakubva Stadium. The champions have amassed 31 points as mid-season kick-starts.
Fourth placed Manica Diamonds beat Mutare city rivals Tenax 1-0 at the same venue the next day, while Bulawayo Chiefs posted the same score line against Yadah in Harare.
Elsewhere, the script has not gone in Benjani Mwaruwari’s way after his Ngezi Platinum suffered a 1-0 loss to Whawha who are under the tutelage of another Warriors striking legend Luke Petros.
Expectations were high that Mwaruwari will transform Ngezi with his rich curriculum vitae as a player, but things are going tough for the former Manchester City forward as his side blows hot and cold.
It remains to be seen if the Undertaker will gain momentum when business resumes in two weeks’ time.
For now, CAPS need to address their waning fortunes, while Mwaruwari should firmly adjust to the rigours of being in the dugout.
