HARARE - Taurai Mangwiro has lashed out at CAPS United supporters who gave him grief after his side’s 0-0 draw with How Mine at Rufaro Stadium on Sunday.
Angry Makepekepe fans desperately tried to confront Mangwiro following the draw that left the Green Machine four points behind Castle Premiership log leaders and great rivals Dynamos before they were stopped by club marshals.
The supporters also fought running battles with the police as they waylaid the CAPS team bus outside the stadium.
In the wake of the ugly scenes that ensued at Rufaro after Sunday’s match, Mangwiro has criticised the Makepekepe fans for trying to make him the scapegoat because he once played for DeMbare during his playing days.
“Some of the fans will realise it’s not the way to support their team and some will know they have a professional coach in charge,” Mangwiro told the Daily News yesterday.
“If we win games it will change perception and I have the confidence we will win a lot of games. Obviously we are all disappointed we failed to maximise, but it’s not the end of the world.
“Mangwiro is not the problem here. What will I benefit from Dynamos if CAPS loses? My heart is at CAPS United. I hate losing just as much as they want team to win.”
Mangwiro said the Makepekepe fans should learn from their previous mistakes when they hounded other coaches out of the club.
“The problem with CAPS fans is that when the team loses it’s the coach’s fault and they do not know what they really want,” he said.
“They accuse me of being a Dynamos supporter but Lloyd Chitembwe, a CAPS legend; they had running battles with him. They were always calling for his blood whenever the team lost.
“It was the same case with Zambian Fewdays Musonda, who did not have any links with Dynamos, but they still treated him badly.”
Mangwiro urged the Makepekepe fans to rally behind the team at this crucial stage of the season and is confident his side can still win the title with seven games to go before the season ends.
“This is not the time of pointing fingers at each other. It’s a crucial stage to our season and we need to stop pointing fingers at each other,” said the former Monomotapa coach.
“We want to have a strong finish. There is a time when the team needs their fans most and this is the time. This kind of behaviour will give unnecessary pressure to the players.
“We only failed to make use of chances that came our way. We need to move with one voice. Things will not always come our way. I personally don’t want to lose matches.
“I was also disappointed in the manner we failed to win the match and disappointed in the manner the fans reacted to the draw.
“They are only derailing our chances. The league is not won by one match. I deserve better from the supporters. The fans need to appreciate my work at times. So far I think we are still on the right track so why panicking?”
The Green Machine currently sits on fourth place with 39 points from 23 matches and trail log leaders Dynamos by four points.
Meanwhile another section of team’s followers believe Twine Phiri is failing to meet the financial obligations needed to run a professional side like CAPS.
The Green Machine have been in the spotlight, for wrong reasons, with the club struggling to secure funds needed for the team to travel to an away match in Bulawayo early this month.