…players go for 2 months without pay
PERENNIAL financial woes continue to bedevil CAPS United.
The former Cup Kings’ hunt for Chibuku Super Cup is staring down the barrel as players have gone for two months without getting their salaries.
Several players who spoke to EnterSportNews on condition of anonymity said they have been irked by the divide and rule tactics being used by the club president Farai Jere.
Jere, who is also the Premier Soccer League chairperson, is alleged to be paying some players now known within the club circles as “Jere Boys” whilst neglecting the plight of the other players.
One of the two players who spoke to EnterSportNews on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation said their salaries were a pittance and find it surprising that the club is failing to pay them on time.
“We haven’t been paid for two months, and our salary is only three thousand Zimbabwe dollars, but Jere then goes behind everyone’s back and pays ‘his boys’ when we are supposed to be one team,” said the player.
Pressed for the names of the players being paid clandestinely by the club president, the player only revealed three names but said they were more.
“Ian Nyoni, Ronald Chitiyo and Phineas Bhamusi are part of the Jere Boys clique,” he said.
The current financial impasse is threatening the club’s existence as reports are also emerging that the
CAPS vice president Nhamo Tutisani is Jere’s proxy and does not own the purported 30 per cent of the club shares, but the move was just done to make sure Twine Phiri exited the club.
Tutisani’s militant leadership style threatens the existence of what used to be a mighty club as morale is very low.
“Tutisani fired Abel the bus driver after he asked for his money (salary) only to reinstate him later, and he is always threatening everyone who dares to ask for his dues,” said the source.
When reached for comment by EnterSportNews, Jere denied the allegations.
When pressed further on what could have motivated the players to discuss their financial situation through the media if it is not true, that question failed to get a response.
There has been talking within the club about winning the Chibuku Super Cup, but the two players who spoke to EnterSportNews played down such ambitions because the team is demotivated.
“How can we win Chibuku (Super Cup) when the majority of the team is dying of hunger? We don’t even have money for bus fare to go to the train for some of us who use public transport. We are supposed to get $10 each for transport weekly, but it’s not coming, and we have to rely on hiking public transport and sometimes depend on well-wishers who are mainly CAPS United supporters,” they said.
There is also a feeling within the group that CAPS head coach Darlington Dodo has been doing so much to get the best out of a team whose morale is at an all-time low through no fault of his own.
The players are conflicted between boycotting matches until their salary demands are met and ignoring their salary issues by playing for their coach.
“To be honest, we can win the Chibuku Super Cup if we are paid our money, but if not, what’s the point of putting maximum effort?
“However, when we think of the sacrifices our coach has done for us, we forget about our personal feelings and want to play to win for him.”
Meanwhile, CAPS United play against Yadah in the Chibuku Super Cup group stage match at the National Sports Stadium this afternoon at 3pm.
