Caps United owner backs players

CAPS United owner Farai Jere has rallied behind his players and board members after the Green Machine were hit by turmoil at the weekend, with the players threatening to boycott their Castle Lager Premiership tie against Hwange over their outstanding salary for July which had not yet been paid.

Jere had to desperately put together a rescue package to pay his players who then made the long trip to the Colliery very late, but to their credit, fought hard to gain a point which kept alive their battle for a first league title in more than 10 years.

The Harare businessman told The Herald yesterday that although he was left a frustrated man by the events that hit his camp at the weekend, he still believed that his players needed to be commended than criticised.

"Of course, what I can tell you is that we had issues in our camp ahead of our trip to Hwange which delayed our scheduled departure for the Colliery because we needed to sort out those issues with our players who said they needed their outstanding salary paid before they could travel," said Jere.

"We have our challenges, just like many institutions in this challenging economic environment, but while the salaries have, inevitably, been delayed because of those challenges, we have always ensured that our players, who are the face of our team, are paid and while it hasn't been an easy ride, we have fulfilled our mandate.

"What is important right now is for us to remain focused on what we want to achieve as a club and that is to win the league championship for those supporters who have stuck with us during these tough times and who deserve that reward because they are an amazing group of people whose love for this team is unbelievable.

"We are in a very good position to challenge for the title, only two points behind the leaders and for that we need to commend the players for the manner that they have battled, in a very tough league, to ensure that we remain in the race and they know that they are a squad who can win this title.

"If you consider that they left for Hwange very late and we didn't have as many as five first-team players, including our leading scorer and our only player who makes the first team for the Warriors, because of injuries and suspension, to get a point and dominate that game is a credit to these players.

"Right now, rather than condemn them for what happened in the lead-up to the match against Hwange, I think we should praise them for their spirit because they really demonstrated that they have this club at heart and that point in Hwange is worth three points considering what we went through.

"This is a special team, no doubt about that and that we are still in the battle for the league championship right now is because of these players and their coaches and let's not lose sight of what they have done, how they have performed gallantly for this Green Machine shirt and where they are in the race for a league title that we desperately want."

Jere also commended coach Lloyd Chitembwe and his assistants for their loyalty to the cause of the club.

"The head coach and his assistants have been first class, in terms of their professionalism, and I think we have a technical team that one can only dream of because they all pull in one direction and they are driven by the quest to try and win the league championship," said Jere.

"Even when we owe them, when there are some outstanding dues which they need to be paid, they have given everything for the team, for the fans and that is what matters to me and it's quite impressive.

"They are real professionals and that is why they are reaping rewards and we are a tough team to beat, no doubt about that and the fans have been magnificent in their support."

Jere also paid tribute to his fellow board members, led by Advocate Lewis Uriri for the contribution they have made to make CAPS United a better team.

"The board chairman and his team have been amazing, they have put in long shifts, they have been there for the team when it needed them and for me, the club is where it is because of the professionalism that we have seen from Advocate Uriri and his team," said Jere.

"The board members are not there to inject their personal funds into the club, but now and again, they have provided such financial contributions and that shows that they really want us to do well.

"We are living in tough times, economic-wise and everyone is feeling the pinch, including CAPS United and the fact that most of our opponents are now outside Harare, with Dynamos and Harare City the only ones in the capital, means that we have to travel a lot and that comes with a lot of costs in terms of transport and accommodation.

"But we have soldiered on and we are in a very good position, right now, and the focus should be to challenge for the title."