By Jefferson Ndhlovu

Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League defending Champions Caps United continue to suffer setbacks in their quest to get their groove back on track.

They drew nil all against a stubborn Shabanie Mine FC at the National Sports Stadium in Harare last night.

The Green Machine are on 16th position in the 18 team marathon 2017 season. With a mammoth six games in hand.

United have only managed 14 points out the possible 33 this season. Not a very welcome status for a team who were in the African Champions league just a few weeks ago.

Coach Llyod Chitembwe has called for a complete mind rejuvenation if his team has to get out of the relegation waters.

In a wide ranging interview after the match at NSS, a dejected Chitembwe had the following to say.

“. . . 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.

“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.

The Green Machine could lose players this transfer windows and already have sold Abbas Amidu to Egyptian side Smouha and defender Ronald Pfumbidzayi has been allowed to attend trials in South Africa.

“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.