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Caps United team bus parked outside the Bulawayo Central Police Station

Bongani Ndlovu Sports Correspondent
CAPS United fans were yesterday baying for their players’ blood after they refused to play their match against How Mine at Luveve Stadium.
As a hired commuter omnibus made its way to Harare, a group of angry fans followed the bus in a bid to force the players to go to the stadium. The skirmish ended up at Bulawayo Central Police Station where players had sought refuge.

When Chronicle Sport visited the police station, it was a sea of green and white as a number of Green Machine supporters, some carrying vegetation, were seen milling around waiting patiently apparently to “deal” with the players who they described as uncouth.

Bulawayo Police spokesperson Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo said the players were housed in the charge office after they reported that they were being blocked by supporters from travelling to Harare.

“The players were blocked by their supporters and came to the Bulawayo Central police station to report that they were being blocked by their fans. After some deliberations it was agreed that the supporters would let the players travel back to Harare. No one was charged and police handled the situation well,” he said.

Outside the police station some supporters were calling for all the players involved in the strike to be fired immediately from the club, without pay.

“Who in his right mind strikes over bonuses? These boys are very stupid. How can they embarrass the team and its supporters like this? They should be serious with life. We can’t travel all the way from Kwekwe to have them play such stupid games with our money. Why didn’t they strike in Harare?” fumed a supporter who only identified himself as Solo.

He said the club would now suffer stiff penalties that could further sink them into the red because of the players’ protest.

It seems playing in Bulawayo is always marred with controversy for the Caps Utd coach Mark Harrison, who looked dejected with the conduct of his players.

The last time he was in the City of Kings a few weeks ago violence marred the match between his charges and Bosso in the Bob 91 Super Cup at Barbourfields Stadium.

He refused to comment on the strike yesterday.

Zifa vice president Omega Sibanda was also at the police station trying to bring a sober mind into the whole debacle but failed.