Tempers flared at Rufaro Stadium on Sunday as Caps United fans turned on their own coach, Ian Bakala, in the wake of a bruising 3-1 home defeat to ZPC Kariba that plunged the Green Machine deeper into the relegation dogfight.
The loss left the Harare giants marooned in 11th position on the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League standings with 31 points, only three clear of the drop zone and with just seven fixtures remaining. For a club with a proud history, the scenario is both alarming and humiliating, and the supporters’ fury boiled over as soon as the final whistle sounded.
Caps United began sluggishly despite enjoying a brief spell of possession in the opening exchanges. ZPC Kariba, sharper and more organised, showed intent from the onset. Their appeals for a penalty in the 12th minute were waved away by the referee, but it did not take long for them to break the deadlock.
Striker Moses Demera pounced in the 18th minute with a scrappy strike that wrong-footed goalkeeper Stephen Kwaku after a wicked bounce. Just five minutes later, Demera doubled his tally, capitalising on Kwaku’s failure to gather a routine shot. The mistakes left the Caps defence in tatters and their home crowd restless.
The two-goal cushion galvanised the visitors, who pressed aggressively and looked likely to add to their tally each time they poured forward. Caps, by contrast, were nervy, their passes disjointed and their midfield overrun.
The Green Machine’s fightback came in the 35th minute when Congolese forward Bissila Mabiala rose highest to nod home a Tanaka Shandirwa free-kick. The goal temporarily lifted the hosts’ spirits and roused the crowd, but ZPC Kariba refused to sit back.
The visitors struck the crossbar and the upright before the interval, with Kwaku forced into several desperate saves to keep Caps in the contest. The second half unfolded in similar fashion, with Kariba dictating play while Bakala’s men struggled to find any rhythm or cohesion.
Desperate to salvage at least a point, Caps United threw men forward in stoppage time. But instead of equalising, they were punished. Substitute Charles Munyanyi ghosted into the box in the 98th minute to glance a corner past Kwaku, sparking wild celebrations among the Kariba contingent.
The result lifted ZPC Kariba to 37 points—a tally historically regarded as sufficient for safety in the top flight. Their players and travelling supporters revelled in a victory that not only secures their survival hopes but also deepens the woes of a once-feared giant.
The contrast between the two sets of fans could not have been starker. As Kariba players embraced on the pitch, Caps United supporters rained missiles onto the turf, forcing security to shield players and officials. Some fans surged toward the technical area, confronting Bakala directly and hurling abuse.
The coach was prevented from conducting his post-match interview as tempers spilled over outside the stadium gates. Supporters accused him of failing to inspire the team, while others warned that relegation was now a real possibility unless drastic changes were made.
“This is not the Caps United we know. We are supposed to be fighting for honours, not fighting relegation,” fumed one fan, clutching a placard demanding the coach’s resignation.
The latest defeat underscores the Green Machine’s freefall in form and raises questions about leadership both on and off the pitch. Caps United, one of Zimbabwe’s most decorated clubs with multiple league titles to their name, now face a nerve-racking final stretch of fixtures where every point could decide their fate.
Caps United Fans Turn on Coach After Crushing Home Defeat to ZPC Kariba
For Bakala, the pressure is mounting. His side has struggled with consistency all season, and while injuries and financial challenges have often been cited as factors, fans appear to have run out of patience.
With only seven games left, Caps United’s survival is far from guaranteed. The team must summon resilience and rediscover the fighting spirit that once defined the Green Machine. Failure to do so could see the unthinkable—a giant of Zimbabwean football slipping out of the top flight.
For ZPC Kariba, however, the victory represents more than just three points. It cements their reputation as a resilient side capable of rising to big occasions, and it gives them breathing space in a season where many teams remain clustered dangerously near the drop.
As the dust settles, Rufaro Stadium will not soon forget the chaotic scenes of Sunday afternoon. For Caps United, the challenge now is to silence the unrest in the stands by delivering results where it matters most—on the pitch.
Source- Bulawayo24
