Kevin Mapasure
8 December 2011
CAPS United could lose out on planned top signings ahead of the 2012 season as boardroom bickering continues to hamper the team’s preparations.
Most teams have started buying and selling to prime themselves up for the challenge in the New Year, yet Caps players are languishing in despair with salaries and bonuses still unpaid. Co-owner Farai Jere is demanding an equal share of the club with fellow director Twine Phiri but while an agreement has been reached paper-work holds any further progress.
“I feel pity for the players now, they have not been paid their salaries and bonuses, but there is nothing I can do. I can only pump out more once we have signed the new agreement,” said Jere.
“I am committed to invest more into the club and buy more players but for now everything is on hold. There is progress because I spoke to Phiri on Thursday. Since then, he has been busy so we just have to wait.”
But time is running out on the Green Machine with some of their targets committing elsewhere.
Jere said that Darryl Nyandoro deal has since been signed and sealed.
“The Nyandoro deal was completed last week and we are still considering others.We are looking to build a strong side for this season once everything within the administration has been sorted out.”
Meanwhile, the Castle Lager Premier League off season break could just be as gripping as the just-ended season with Platinum miners Unki waiting on the sidelines with a huge cash injection into Hardbody if they win promotion into the elite league.
According to sources, the Shurugwi mine has already agreed with Hardbody for the sale of the premier league franchise if they win their disputed promotion into the top league.
Hardbody have appealed against a decision to dock them 42 points after irregularities in the registration of a player were noted.
This would mean Tripple B of Beitbridge win promotion but Hardbody, owned by T&H bus operators, are resisting that decision which would apart from seeing him lose out on US US$1m would see his team relegated to Division Two.
The Gweru community is following proceedings with keen interest as the miners, if they clinch the deal and a premier league slot, intend to invest heavily in the club to rival fellow platinum miners of Zvishavane who bankroll FC Platinum in terms of spending power.
FC Platinum, who made a PSL bow at the start of the 2011 edition, enforced a shake up in the league with an unlimited spending spree that saw them attract the cream of the elite league.
Gweru without a PSL team for years now after Chapungu failed again this term to make a return would benefit from the Unki-Hardbody deal as the miners have already mooted the use of Ascot stadium.
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