The Sunday Mail
Don Makanyanga
CAPS UNITED have scored once in their last six matches, they have a season average of a goal per match and gaffer Lloyd Chitembwe is understandably a worried man.
Chitembwe admits his charges have been found wanting in front of goal in the second half of the season but is not in a position to apportion blame.
“The primary responsibility of strikers is to get the goals, but when they can’t score, it becomes the responsibility of the whole team.
“In as far as I am concerned, we are going through a bad patch in front of goal,” said Chitembwe whose team welcomes Nichrut at the NSS today.
Caps United have had limited options in their frontline this season.
The departure of 2017 Golden Boot winner Dominic Chungwa saw John Zhuwawo being thrust into the big shoes left by the Polokwane City forward.
Zhuwawo did well in the first half of the season, scoring nine times, but his form has dipped and a groin injury compounded his travails.
He is yet to score in the second phase of the 2018 Premier Soccer League with 10 games to play.
“When your top striker, who has been your main source of goals, is not in form or is out with injury, naturally it affects the team,” Chitembwe said.
“I am happy that he is back from injury and looking at what he has been doing as an individual, and what the team has been doing, you realise that the guys are also concerned with the lack of goals and are eager to regain their composure in front of goal.”
“Hopefully we will start getting the goals beginning with the game on Sunday (today) now that he (Zhuwawo) is back.”
Caps United fans appear to be slowly losing patience with the technical department led by Chitembwe.
They directed frustrations towards the head coach before and after the team’s 0-2 defeat by Triangle at home last week.
Chitembwe understands the frustrations of the fans.
“By nature, Caps United is a big team and being a coach of such a big institution always comes with such kind of pressure.
“We lost a number of good players, and we have struggled to get desired results, it’s something we expected, and what is happening now is normal in football.
“I think we haven’t done badly and I am happy with the progress that we have made this season,” he said.
Turning to today’s encounter, the 47-year-old Caps United coach is confident of a positive result.
“We have been working on all aspects of the game, particularly on the department where we have been found wanting.
“I am happy with the progress the guys have made and it’s now time to implement what we have practiced in training on match day and I am hopeful of a positive result,” said Chitembwe.
