Johnson Progress

Caps United’s season has lurched back into crisis mode after a dismal 3-1 home defeat to ZPC Kariba at Rufaro Stadium, leaving the team on the brink of relegation.

The loss saw Caps United drop to 11th on the log with 31 points, three points from the relegation zone with seven matches remaining.

Furious fans turned on coach Ian Bakala, pelting him with missiles after the final whistle and preventing him from holding a post-match interview.

ZPC Kariba took the lead in the 18th minute when Moses Demera’s speculative shot deceived goalkeeper Stephen Kwaku, bouncing awkwardly off Rufaro’s uneven turf.

Demera doubled the lead four minutes later, pouncing on a rebound after Kwaku failed to handle a shot.

Caps United pulled a goal back in the 35th minute through Bissila Mabiala’s well-placed header from a Tanaka Shandirwa free kick, but ZPC Kariba continued to dominate, hitting the crossbar and post on separate occasions.

As Caps United pushed for an equalizer in the dying minutes, they left themselves exposed at the back, allowing ZPC Kariba substitute Charles Munyanyi to seal the victory in stoppage time with a glancing header from a corner kick.

The win lifted ZPC Kariba to eighth place with 37 points, easing their relegation fears and all but guaranteeing top-flight survival.

Bakala attributed the defeat to injuries, which have left his team unbalanced.

“Honestly, I don’t know what happened to the defence today,” he said.

“The way we conceded is unacceptable. I think everyone concentrated on scoring.”

Bakala expressed confidence that once his injured stars return, the team will rebound and start climbing the table.

The team’s performance, coupled with their precarious position, has left fans worried about the prospect of a season finale that could see the club fighting relegation.

With seven matches remaining, Caps United will need to regroup and find a way to arrest their slide down the table. The pressure is mounting, and mistakes are happening, but Bakala remains optimistic about his team’s chances of survival.