Adjust mind-set, Chitembwe tells players

CAPS United head coach, Lloyd Chitembwe, has said players appear to have become tedious at the premier league champions after their goalless draw with Shabanie Mine at home at the National Sports Stadium on Wednesday.

16th placed CAPS United, who have six games in hand, have registered 14 points in 11 matches having won three matches, drawn five and lost three. Before Wednesday’s goalless draw, they had lost 3-1 to How Mine after having lost 2-0 to Yadah FC.

The draw against Shabanie Mine was their second match since their illustrious participation in the CAF champions league came to an end in the group stages.

Speaking in the wake of the goalless draw, Chitembwe said the team needs mind-set re-adjustment in order to step up their performance in the premier league.

“. . . I think we anticipated this (slump) after our participation in the champions league. I think at the moment what is important is to try and reset the minds of the boys.

“We appear to be having some broken hearts, you know . . . people had set personal goals and some have not achieved those goals so you are bound to have this kind of a thing, but like I said, we seem to be on a transition and you know a lot of players are also contemplating on their futures,” he said.

CAPS United failed to break the deadlock against the platinum miners despite several chances falling their way in both halves, with striker Dominic Chungwa, who squandered several clear cut chances, being pulled out for Joel Ngodzo just after the break.

“I think the biggest achievement for us was to try and have a very, very competitive side and I’m sure with a little bit of luck, I’m sure in this game we could have wrapped up the match, but like I said, all we need to do is to try and reset the mind-set. I’m sure that’s the most important thing we just have to deal with at this moment,” he added.

CAPS United have lost striker, Abbas Amidu, to Egyptian top flight side Smouha, while fullback, Ronald Pfumbidzai, has gone for trials at Bloemfontein Celtic in South Africa. The Harare giants have already lost former vice-captain, Dennis Dauda, to Yadah FC.

Chitembwe said about four or five players are set to leave the club this transfer window and that champions league exit frustrations coupled with transfer anxiety had begun to eat into the performance of several players.

“Yah, [it’s] very, very important, it’s a process (resetting the mind-set), I’m sure once the [transfer] window closes, I’m sure players will know they are here to stay, they will refocus. You know, as long as the window is still open . . . we are a team in transition . . . we are expecting a number of players, four or five, to leave. Not in the domestic league but going outside.

“That in itself unsettles the mind-set, especially those that have prospects that are much brighter, they chicken out of tackles, and you know, it’s expected, the commitment [of the player] will not be 100% as of that one who is here to stay.

“I think it’s a process and we just have to manage that process and once we go through that I’m sure we do business as usual,” he said.

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