The Sunday Mail
THERE are murmurs of disgruntlement at Caps United where players are reportedly owed winning bonuses.
While mobile network operator NetOne is catering for the players’ salaries, the Green Machine must foot bonuses.
Information gathered shows that players at the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League side are owned bonuses for six matches.
Caps United have seven wins to their credit; against Black Rhinos, Herentals, Dynamos, Nichrut, ZPC Kariba, Yadah Stars and Bulawayo City, going into today’s clash against Chapungu at Ascot.
Their five draws have come against Harare City, Bulawayo Chiefs, FC Platinum, Shabanie Mine and Highlanders.
The 2016 champions have lost four times to date: against Triangle, Chicken Inn, Ngezi Platinum and Mutare City, giving them 26 points from 16 matches.
Makepekepe have fallen way behind the leading duo of FC Platinum and Ngezi Platinum and reports that players are unhappy with the financial situation do not help Lloyd Chitembwe’s quest to reclaim a title he won two seasons ago.
“We were paid one winning bonus out of seven and as players we are not happy,” said one player.
“Nothing is coming our way even if we win and this is affecting us because we expect to be paid when we win. That acts as motivation,” added another.
The team bus was attached on June 8 after the club failed to pay a $10 460 debt owed to former employee Joyce Kapota.
Efforts to get a comment from Makepekepe chief executive Cuthbert Chitima were fruitless as his mobile phone went unanswered before failing to go through.
On the park, Caps United held their last session of the week on Friday with Denver Mukamba still nowhere to be seen, but technical director Nelson Matongorere said the team would move on without him.
“There’s always life after him. One player is not the team,” said Matongorere. “(Mukamba) spoke with the head coach and explained his challenges which I think are not for public consumption.
“Nonetheless we have prepared well for Chapungu, we have done our homework, we are aware they are always difficult at home.”
2014 Soccer Star of the Year Dennis Dauda is set bounce back into the starting line-up to partner Justice Jangano, but newly minted striker Milton “Milito” Ncube has been ruled out by a niggling hamstring.
Steven Makatuka is also yet to recover while Carlton Munzabwa was down with tonsilitis last Friday and is another doubt.
