Sports / Soccer
Troubled Makepekepe fire senior players for sabotage
31 Aug 2012 at 02:38hrs | Views
RELEGATION haunted Caps United, still in a dazed state following a 3-0 bashing by Dynamos in a Harare Derby last weekend, have fired influential goalkeeper Edmore "Zikeeper" Sibanda and defender and former captain Nyasha Mukumbi, accusing them of sabotaging the team.
The club also gave a stern warning to midfielder Marvel Samaneka and strikers Washington Pakamisa and Evans Gwekwerere in what will turn out to be a "Capsgate" as the players are alleged to have been underperforming in a bid to have a former coach taking over the reins.
Sources privy to the goings-on at the club said even when the former Caps great, Lloyd Chitembwe, was assistant to Northern Irishman, Sean Connor, the players allegedly sided with him.
"The directors feel some players have been deliberately working against the club's cause and felt it was better to work with committed players who would give their best even when losing," said a Caps United player who requested anonymity for fear of victimisation.
The player said the majority of the players had always suspected foul play on the part of the fingered players.
Contacted for comment, Caps United chief executive officer Maxwell Mironga tried to be diplomatic with his words, choosing to say: "As of now they are not part of the club".
He said the players were free to join any club they want and Caps would not stand in their way.
"It's to do with insubordination. The Code of Conduct in their contracts was clear about what happens when a player decides not to follow expected conduct," said Mironga.
He said he could not reveal what the players did as investigations were still going on, a suggestion that more heads could roll at the former Cup Kings.
Goalkeeper Sibanda, who was Caps United's deadball specialist and had endeared himself to the fans with his pose just before taking a freekick, missed a penalty recently while Pakamisa, a born striker, is yet to score this year.
Strikers have not been scoring while the defence has been very porous.
Makepekepe started the season badly and their performance deteriorated steadily until now even though they had some wins here and there.
The team never really gelled with the final straw coming last Sunday when they were pummelled into submission by their neighbours Dynamos, a result that broke a 12-year-old record.
The Dynamos match was the ninth league game without a win and they lie 12th on the Castle Lager
Premiership log standings with a paltry 19 pointsâ€" a massive 24 points behind leaders Highlanders.
The club directors, Farai Jere and Twine Phiri fired Connor and Chitembwe and brought into the train,
Taurai Mangwiro and Mkhuphali Masuku but results continue to elude the team.
The club also gave a stern warning to midfielder Marvel Samaneka and strikers Washington Pakamisa and Evans Gwekwerere in what will turn out to be a "Capsgate" as the players are alleged to have been underperforming in a bid to have a former coach taking over the reins.
Sources privy to the goings-on at the club said even when the former Caps great, Lloyd Chitembwe, was assistant to Northern Irishman, Sean Connor, the players allegedly sided with him.
"The directors feel some players have been deliberately working against the club's cause and felt it was better to work with committed players who would give their best even when losing," said a Caps United player who requested anonymity for fear of victimisation.
The player said the majority of the players had always suspected foul play on the part of the fingered players.
Contacted for comment, Caps United chief executive officer Maxwell Mironga tried to be diplomatic with his words, choosing to say: "As of now they are not part of the club".
He said the players were free to join any club they want and Caps would not stand in their way.
"It's to do with insubordination. The Code of Conduct in their contracts was clear about what happens when a player decides not to follow expected conduct," said Mironga.
Goalkeeper Sibanda, who was Caps United's deadball specialist and had endeared himself to the fans with his pose just before taking a freekick, missed a penalty recently while Pakamisa, a born striker, is yet to score this year.
Strikers have not been scoring while the defence has been very porous.
Makepekepe started the season badly and their performance deteriorated steadily until now even though they had some wins here and there.
The team never really gelled with the final straw coming last Sunday when they were pummelled into submission by their neighbours Dynamos, a result that broke a 12-year-old record.
The Dynamos match was the ninth league game without a win and they lie 12th on the Castle Lager
Premiership log standings with a paltry 19 pointsâ€" a massive 24 points behind leaders Highlanders.
The club directors, Farai Jere and Twine Phiri fired Connor and Chitembwe and brought into the train,
Taurai Mangwiro and Mkhuphali Masuku but results continue to elude the team.
Source - TC
