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Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
CASTLE Lager Premier Soccer League leaders Caps United players reportedly turned down a 100 percent increase in bonuses offered by management as the championship race hots up.

Makepekepe lead the pack by two points with two games to go. FC Platinum are second, while Highlanders are four points behind in third place heading into this weekend’s duels.

Caps United are home to Chibuku Super Cup winners Ngezi Platinum Stars, while FC Platinum take on Highlanders at Mandava Stadium in Zvishavane on Sunday.

Makepekepe have been on fire in the second half of the season, losing only once, 1-3 to Bulawayo City, and confidence is now high in the club’s hierarchy that this is their year.

In a bid to psyche the boys, Caps United president and majority shareholder Farai Jere offered his boys $400 winning bonuses, up from $200, but his players allegedly turned it down.

Caps United chief executive officer Cuthbert Chitima, however, refuted the claims, saying if the club wanted to offer an increase, it would have been done in the middle of the season and not towards the end.

Caps United were hit by player revolts over salary issues twice this season, with the last being in the Chibuku Super Cup first round encounter against Tsholotsho where they delayed the start of the match as they protested.

This was in violation of Order 31.2.17 of the PSL rules and regulations which make it an act of misconduct on the part of a player, official, servant or duly authorised representative of a club, official of the league, member of the executive or member of any sub-committee who behaves in a manner which brings the league or any of the sponsors into disrepute or endangers the welfare of the league.

The club was fined $1 500 for that.