Caps United promise no favours

CAPS United have vowed to adhere to the highest standards of sportsmanship by going for victory when they clash with table-toppers Harare City in a Castle Premiership title decider at the weekend.

A win for CAPS on the last day of the season will shatter City's title hopes, but will indirectly aid their bitter rivals, Dynamos.

Second-placed Dynamos, who are a point behind City, pray that CAPS win while they beat Black Rhinos in their last game of the season.

The Green Machine, who are targeting a top four finish, need to beat the Sunshine Boys to pip FC Platinum for a top four finish.

United are on 48 points while FC Platinum is one point ahead and only a win over City will guarantee them a top four finish.

On the other hand, City need to win against Makepekepe to win their maiden title in only their second season in the top flight league.

Harare City currently lead the table with 53 points while Dynamos and Highlanders are a further point behind.

Intriguing debate has sparked off since Sunday's results in the Premiership left CAPS with a big role to play in the destiny of the title.

Would CAPS deliberately lose to City so as to spite Dynamos, or beat City and let their greatest enemy go away with the bragging rights for another season?

CAPS assistant coach Saul Chaminuka told the Daily News on Monday that the Green Machine will be after three points at the weekend.

"We are looking for a top four finish this season and we desperately need the three points on Sunday against Harare City," Chaminuka said.

"It is also the last game of the season for us and like any other team we would want to end our season on a high by winning our last game. When we start our preparations for the 2014 season next year, we would want to have happy memories of this season and for that to happen we need to win our last game of this season.

"It's unfortunate that this game will have a bearing on many things, but as CAPS United the only thing we are worried about is clinching that top four finish."

Chaminuka added that Makepekepe have a score to settle with the Sunshine Boys.

"In the first game of the season, Harare City emerged victorious against CAPS United and we will be looking to avenge that defeat," he said.

"This is one game we have to win because the only team that was able to take all six points from us this season was Dynamos and we would like to keep that record intact.

"There will be no favours to Harare City because they defeated us at their own home ground and now they will be coming to our home, where we hope to win the game."

In their last two matches, the CAPS coaches have tinkered with their line up by giving a number of their fringe players some game time.

This has seen the likes of Blessing Zabula, Terrence Gonzo and Gift Phiri getting rare starts after having watched from the sidelines throughout the season.

Chaminuka, however, said they will field a competitive team against City, which they hope will deliver the three points.

"We look at a lot of factors when we are planning our team for each particular game," he said.

"There are some players we feel can be good in a particular game, and other we think will not be suitable.

"We have a large pool of players to choose from and hopefully who ever we are going to select will do the job for us."

The former Buffaloes coach said a lot of attention will be placed on their game this weekend and their players need to handle this pressure.

"We don't want to think about what is going to happen at the top or the bottom of the log. We are only under pressure to finish our season on a high and get a top four finish," said Chaminuka.

"I'm sure our boys will be under pressure, but we are going to sit down with them to point out that they should only concentrate on playing our normal game."