Battle of the Cities
THIS past week, it was business as usual for Caps United as coach Lloyd Chitembwe presided over what could be his last training session with the Harare Giants.
Chitembwe chose to be diplomatic in his responses and could neither confirm nor deny his reported departure.
He chose to dwell on the match between Caps United and Highlanders this afternoon and remained mum on whether he will be leaving for Harare City or not.
“I am still committed to the cause at Caps United,” said Chitembwe.
In what could be his last match with the Green Machine, Chitembwe is expecting a tough encounter with Highlanders who are
unbeaten in their last five matches.
“We want to get a positive result and we are aware that it is not an easy task, especially playing a team like Highlanders.
“However, our season target is winning the championship.
“We are now in the second half of the season and we have demanded consistency from the team.
“If we are to get to where we would want to be at the end of the season, we need to play with ambition,” said Chitembwe.
Caps United are currently second on the log table, four points behind leaders FC Platinum who take on Triangle FC this afternoon at Gibbo Stadium.
As for Highlanders, interim coach Mandla Mpofu, who is yet to taste defeat since taking over from Madinda Ndlovu last month, is hoping for his first win away from Barbourfields.
He is also targeting to end his team’s seven match winless streak against Caps United in the capital.
“We are searching for our first win away from home, which is the most important thing for us at the moment,” said Mpofu.
“I challenged the boys to get those three points away from home,” he said.
The first instalment of the Battle of Cities ended in a nil-all draw at Barbourfields on April 4.
Mpofu is looking forward to an exciting return leg with the Harare Giants at the National Sports Stadium today.
“A match between Highlanders and Caps United is always big, regardless of the form of either team.
“We are ready for the challenge,” said Mpofu.
The Bosso interim coach acknowledged that the match is not going to be easy since his side last recorded a victory against Caps United at the National Sports Stadium in August 2012.
“Caps United have been performing better than Highlanders. I have to acknowledge that it will take a great deal of effort if we are to catch up with them.
“But in as much as we carry the underdog tag, no team should take us lightly. We can turn the tables and considering that we picked six points in the last two games, this can be a motivator,” said Mpofu.
However, in his second correspondence to the SRC, dated July 18, 2019, Mamutse informed the regulatory body that his earlier response was in fact sufficient.
“This serves to inform you that the response we submitted on Friday 12th of July 2019, regarding our Afcon participation, is complete.
“You will recall that during the submission of that letter, we had indicated that we may make follow up and supplementary communication to add on to the initial response.
“We have since realised that the response we sent to you is sufficient and requires no additional submission. We therefore now await the SRC to clarify on the enquiry we made in the initial response,” read Mamutse’s second letter to the SRC.
Last Friday night, the under-pressure Kamambo told Star FM that it is unfortunate that the SRC has chosen to take matters to Fifa before discussing with them. He insisted that dialogue between the two parties could solve the impasse.
Kamambo said he is confident that the rocky relationship between the Zifa leadership and the SRC is a phase that will soon pass when they give their full side of the story.
losing the touch with every passing week.
“It is a painful defeat for us and we need to be consistent if we are to win. We are still in it, but we need to start winning games,” said Maruwa.
Dhlakama, who was all smiles after the match, said despite watching his side trailing, he remained confident of victory.
“I was not worried when we went a goal down. I knew we would come back and win, and it is a big win for us considering the number of matches that we had gone without a victory,” said the soft-spoken gaffer.