Caps United board chairman, Farai Jere, has played down reports and facts that the Harare giants have not paid their players, a move which critics have deemed likely detrimental to their 2017 champions league title hopes.
Reports of player discontent circulated ahead of CAPS United’s champions league first leg first round qualifier away to Lesotho champions Lioli FC.
Speaking to Soccer24 at a CAPS United training session at the National Sports Stadium on Wednesday, Jere said it is not unusual to have such reports of unpaid salaries in circulation.
“That has been happening since last year, so we are not worried about it,” he said.
The motivation of the players will be key in registering a vital win against the CAF experienced Lesotho champions before they face an uphill task of contending with T.P Mazembe of DRC.
The morale of the players was low ahead of the first leg preliminary round match which was played in Maseru on Saturday. Player grumbling took center stage as the club unveiled their 2017 kit in Harare last week.
Reports circulated as fears mounted that the unresolved situation could scuttle the green machine’s champions league hopes as United participate in CAF for the first time in more than 10 years.
“Let them talk about it, we are not worried about the player wages not being paid, it’s not an issue to us,” Jere said.