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Lloyd Chitembwe

Eddie Chikamhi, Harare Bureau
Caps Utd 0-0 Shabanie Mine

CAPS United coach, Lloyd Chitembwe, said speculations and the movements currently taking place at the club could have impacted negatively on his players after the Harare giants yesterday put up a lifeless show in a share of the spoils against Shabanie Mine at the National Sports Stadium.

The Green Machine fired blanks with Dominic Chungwa missing the best chance of the afternoon when he came face-to-face with goalkeeper Samuel Mafukidze early in the first half.

Besides that glorious opportunity, the Harare giants could not make meaningful build-ups in that drab affair.

Chitembwe said the departure of Abbas Amidu and the possibility of players getting lucrative offers elsewhere has created an air of uncertainty in their dressing room.

He said more players could leave in the coming days.

Makepekepe also missed the services of Ronald Pfumbuidzai who is currently in South Africa for trials at Bloemfontein Celtic.

“We anticipated this after our participation in the Caf Champions League. At the moment what’s more important is to try and reset the mindset of the boys,” said Chitembwe.

“I think the biggest achievement for us was to try and have a very competitive side. I am sure with a bit of luck, who knows in this game, we could have wrapped up the match.

“As long as the window is still open, like I have always said, we are a team in transition because we are expecting a number of players — four or five — to leave not for the domestic league but obviously going outside.

“That in itself unsettles the mindset especially those that have prospects that are much brighter. They chicken out of tackles and it’s expected the commitment will not be as 100 percent as that of someone who is here to stay,” said Chitembwe.

Caps United survived a real scare in the 23rd minute when the ball twice hit the woodwork in a goalmouth melee after former Dynamos striker Farai Mupasiri caught the defence napping with a header at the back post.

Chitembwe appeared to be preparing for a new era giving Amon Kambanje another starting place and handing youthful striker John Zhuwawo his debut at home.

Shabanie Mine coach, Takesure Chiragwi, was the happier of the two coaches.

They lost key players Collins Dhuwa to Chicken Inn and Nelson Maziwisa to a Zambian club.

“I think it’s a point gained and that point is very important for the club. As much as we would want to be consistent, as a club we are very happy because this is a third game in a row that we didn’t concede.

“We managed to get seven points in those matches and I think we are very happy with that. The team has changed, some of the senior players were not there and I am happy with the youngsters,” said Chiragwi.