The Sunday Mail
Ishemunyoro Chingwere
TSHOLOTSHO FC’s stunner over 2015 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League pre-season favourites Harare City on Friday has inspired fellow premiership debutants, Whawha, who take on a bubbly Caps United at Ascot this afternoon.
This was revealed by the team’s technical adviser Lloyd Mutasa.
The prison services’ side has managed to hold on to their franchise, which was reportedly on the market in the off season as well as skirt a legal provision which had threatened to bar them from partaking in the same league as fellow prison side Flame Lilly.
The challenge is now for them to defend their premiership status on the field of play and the challenge starts with a home duel against Mark Harrison’s Caps United, who are bidding to end a decade long absence from the league winner’s podium.
The setting however, has nightmarish memories for Caps United, who were humiliated by three goals to nil at the same venue last season by a Farai Manase inspired Chapungu.
Mutasa said in as much as United’s pedigree can never be doubted, his charges were in the league to compete and will be encouraged by how fellow debutants Tsholotsho snatched three points from Taurai Mangwiro’s star-studded City.
“Their (Tsholotsho) win is a good motivation to our players and all debutants who will look up to that match and say with hard work and belief anything is possible.
“There is no doubt that Caps are a very formidable side but the reason why we were promoted is to compete with the best and be counted among the best.
“We have done our part in terms of preparation, not only for this match, but for the season as a whole and we are confident we will hold our own,” said Mutasa.
Whawha are largely a closed book with nothing much known of their squad but this does not worry Mutasa, who said they rely on team work.
Strikers Michael Mageja and Caleb Masocha have prior premiership experience and will have key roles to play.
However, in Caps United they face a rejuvenated side that has a renewed sense of belief that is inspired by the arrival of a new sponsor and English coach Harrison.
Today’s fixtures:
Triangle v Hwange (Gibbo), How Mine v Chapungu (Luveve), Whawha v Caps United (Ascot)
