The Sunday Mail
Caps United’s awful away record and log anchors Chiredzi FC’s equally disappointing winless streak at home makes today’s Castle Lager Premier Soccer League clash at Chishamiso intriguing. Taurai Mangwiro, presiding over Caps United’s worst away record in almost a decade, is desperate to snatch the elusive win while his counterpart Moses “Bambo” Chunga is hoping to exploit the visitors’ streak of on the road misfortunes and conjure up his maiden home win.
Makepekepe have lost all their league matches played outside the capital this season conceding 11 goals and scoring only once – a deplorable record that has seen them fail to break into the top four this season.
Makepekepe lost 1-2 against FC Platinum at Mandava, were thrashed 0-4 by Highlanders at Barbourfields, went down 0-2 against How Mine at Luveve and recently got a hiding at Ascot where they were hit 0-3 by Premiership returnees Chapungu.
They recovered from that embarrassing defeat in Gweru with a 3-0 win over Shabanie Mine at the National Sports Stadium last Sunday and are now hoping to build on that impressive win.
On 19 points after 11 rounds of action and two points outside the top four, Makepekepe have a genuine chance of edging closer to the top echelons of the table should they beat Chiredzi FC.
On the other hand, Chunga still awaits his first Premiership victory at Chishamiso where his side have lost thrice and drawn the same number of games.
The home side’s only win of the season was registered away at Bantu Rovers in week six and Chunga’s men, rooted at the bottom with only six points, are now odds-on favourites for relegation.
Sanity appears to be prevailing at Chiredzi FC following weeks of boardroom quarrels between Chunga and members of his executive over Bambo’s decision to unilaterally collect the gate-takings from their home match against Dynamos.
A defiant Chunga is now focused on saving his team from relegation and is threatening to compound Makepekepe’s road woes.
“Prophets of doom are always there and they want to see us fail, but that is not going to happen.
“We are over those petty issues that have been reported so much on and our main focus is on improving our position on the log standings and the players’ welfare.
“Caps United should be prepared for a real fight. Some people are already writing our epitaph and I cannot stop them because everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but we want to prove them wrong,” said Chunga.
Mangwiro is hard pressed to build consistency at Makepekepe, who have blown hot and cold throughout the first half of the season, and is hoping to finally get it right on the road.
“We need to get that elusive away victory. We are sure it will come and hopefully it is this Sunday (today) at Chishamiso.
“We have to build consistency, so we have to start winning away from home and I am happy I have a full squad available for this fixture,” said Mangwiro
