CAPS United insist title race is still alive despite bleak run
CAPS United vow to remain in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title race despite a poor run; coach Takesure Chiragwi points to new signings and belief.
CAPS United say they remain in contention for the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title even after a prolonged downturn in form that has seen them fall down the table. The Harare side have managed just one victory in their last 12 league outings, a slump that has put pressure on the coaching staff and raised questions about their ability to sustain a championship bid. Head coach Takesure Chiragwi, however, maintains the squad still has time to recover with 12 matches left on the calendar.
Chiragwi insists the title fight is not over
Coach Takesure Chiragwi told reporters he believes CAPS United can mount a late challenge and that the club’s objective remains unchanged. He stressed that the team must address specific weaknesses quickly and reclaim the confidence that underpinned their form earlier in the season. Chiragwi’s message to supporters and players alike is pragmatic: the gap can be closed if performances improve and the squad regains its scoring touch.
The coach framed the recovery as a process rather than a single moment, pointing to training intensity and tactical adjustments as immediate priorities. He said management and staff are focused on day-to-day improvements and that the players understand the urgency required to turn results around. That steady, step-by-step approach is central to the club’s current response to mounting outside expectations.
Scoring drought and form dip have widened the gap
Makepekepe have won only once across their last 12 league matches, a sequence that has seen them slip from the summit to fifth place. The team’s problem has been clear: an inability to convert chances and the erosion of attacking confidence that previously sustained their results. While defensive lapses played a part at times, it is the lack of goals that Chiragwi identifies as the principal issue to remedy.
Statistically, the run has cost CAPS United valuable ground on the leaders, leaving them 13 points adrift of Scottland FC with a dozen fixtures remaining. That margin is significant, but not necessarily insurmountable in a season where form can swing rapidly. Still, the present slump has created pressure on every matchday and increased the significance of each upcoming fixture.
Mid-season changes aim to revive the campaign
In response to the downturn, CAPS United moved in the mid-season window to bolster the squad and address perceived shortfalls. The club parted ways with goalkeeper Wallace Magalane amid serious match-fixing allegations and promptly signed veteran Warriors shot-stopper Washington Arubi as his replacement. The goalkeeper swap is intended to stabilise the defensive unit and inject experience at the back.
Beyond the goalkeeping change, Makepekepe also added three foreign recruits during the window as part of a broader attempt to refresh options and improve depth. Those signings were targeted to bring different skill sets and to reignite the competitive spirit across the squad. The new arrivals will face immediate scrutiny as they are tasked with helping reverse a run of results that has dented the club’s momentum.
Early-season momentum and where it unravelled
CAPS United enjoyed a strong start to the campaign, spending more than seven weeks at the top of the standings during the first half of the season. That period showcased a coherent attacking identity and a defensive resilience that made them title favourites. The contrast between that early form and the present inconsistency is one of the key narratives shaping the club’s season.
Observers point to a combination of injuries, fatigue and tactical predictability as contributors to the slump that followed. Opponents adjusted, and the team appears to have struggled to adapt quickly enough. Rebuilding the balance that delivered weeks at the summit will require both tactical recalibration and a return to the collective intensity that defined their early campaign.
Tactical priorities and areas for immediate improvement
Chiragwi has indicated that restoring attacking confidence is the immediate priority, and training focus has shifted to movement in the final third and set-piece routines. Coaching staff are also working on finishing drills and on combinations that create clearer scoring opportunities for forwards and midfield runners. On the defensive side, communication and organisation in transition have been identified as areas needing sharper focus.
Mental resilience is another focal point, with team psychologists and senior players expected to play a larger role in rebuilding belief. The club’s leadership believes that small changes in preparation and match management can translate into measurable improvements. If CAPS United can convert a higher percentage of chances and reduce avoidable goals conceded, they will be in a stronger position to narrow the gap at the top.
Fixture slate and realistic paths back into contention
With 12 league matches still to play, the calendar presents a mixture of direct confrontations with title rivals and fixtures against lower-ranked opponents. That balance gives CAPS United opportunities to gain points quickly but also risks further slippage if form does not improve. The margin of 13 points to the leaders means the club must adopt an aggressive win-first approach while maintaining defensive prudence.
Key forthcoming fixtures will test the team’s ability to respond under pressure and to integrate new signings into competitive match situations. A run of consecutive wins would dramatically alter the dynamics of the title race, but even a short winless spell could effectively end realistic hopes. Therefore, every matchday will carry amplified consequences for the club’s season trajectory.
Washington Arubi’s presence in goal and the contribution of the three newly signed foreigners will be watched closely by fans and analysts. If those changes deliver immediate stability and added attacking impetus, CAPS United can close ground quickly. Conversely, a slow settling-in period for the newcomers could prolong the club’s struggles and increase the challenge of mounting a sustained title push.
The coaching staff have signalled that tactical flexibility will be important in the coming weeks, with rotation and match-specific strategies likely to be used more often. That willingness to adapt suggests the club recognises the need for evolution rather than repetition of patterns that have recently failed. Ultimately, results on the pitch will determine whether these adjustments are sufficient.
The club’s leadership must also manage expectations among supporters who remember the weeks at the summit and are eager for a return to that standard. Transparent communication about progress and measurable targets for the next block of fixtures will be important to maintain faith among the fanbase. If CAPS United can string together a sequence of positive results, belief will likely follow and the club’s prospects will materially improve.
The months ahead will be decisive for both the coaching staff and the players as they try to salvage a campaign that promised so much in its early stages. Whether the mid-season additions and a renewed tactical emphasis can reverse the current malaise remains to be seen, but the club’s stance is clear: the title race is still within reach if performance levels return. For now, CAPS United will press on with urgency, seeking to translate belief into the consistent results that won them the top spot earlier in the season.
Fans will watch closely as the team attempts to convert training work into match-winning form and to cut down the points deficit one fixture at a time.
