CAPS United supporters on Friday afternoon presented grocery hampers to the players and technical staff as a way of motivating them in the quest for the championship ahead of the penultimate home game against Ngezi Platinum Stars.

Makepekepe host the newboys on Sunday at the National Sports Stadium in a match which could see them lift the title depending on results in the match pitting nearest rivals Highlanders and FC Platinum at Mandava.

There is a huge sense of belief among the CAPS United supporters as their team stand on the threshold of greatness and the supporters say they feel a strong sense of pride and belonging having one of their own, Lloyd Chitembwe, leading the club on the verge of lifting their first championship trophy in 11 years.

And on Friday afternoon they visited the team at their training session where they delivered goodies to motivate their football heroes.

Makepekepe are leading the race in their year’s Premiership campaign and are two points clear at the top with as many games remaining before the end of the season.

The club’s supporters’ representatives in the board of directors Abraham Kawadza revealed the excitement and the anxiety in their camp as they stand on the threshold of what could turn out a fruitful season for them.

Their coach Chitembwe, who was a target of a section of a militant section of the supporters who wanted him out earlier in the season, has done his best to win back the confidence of the whole Green Machine family.

“As supporters we have been waiting for a long time for this and with the way things have been going we believe this is going to be our year.

“Of course there are two more games coming up against Ngezi Platinum and Chapungu. These are definitely not going to be easy matches. But we have come a long way.

“Credit to Lloyd Chitembwe and his boys. They have done well so far. The team’s leadership has also been supportive especially our president Farai Jere who always strives to make things happen under the most difficult conditions.

“But it’s even more encouraging that we have one of us on the verge of taking the team to The Promised Land. It has never happened before that a former CAPS United player would win the title. But we are almost there and we all feel that sense of belonging, there is that sense of belief.

 “I am sure it was all because of the mutual respect for one another and for our positions within the institution.  

“Yes, we had some our colleague who didn’t believe in Chitembwe’s capabilities at first. But then people are entitled to their opinions. Because of that we had meetings as supporters with the club’s leadership, the technical team, the captain and the players and we came out speaking the same language.

“I believe whatever doubts some of us had were dealt with at those meetings we held some four or five months ago. Here we are today, one big happy family. We needed that unity,” said Kawadza.

Makepekepe have had remarkable season and have 57 points in the bag with FC Platinum following closely on 55.

They will be hoping that Highlanders, who still hold some remote chances after falling back on 53 points following the shock 1-2 home defeat to Tsholotsho, will do the job for them when they clash with FC Platinum.

Makepekepe supporters are sensing something big. They have even adopted the spellbinding “Viking war chant” which was performed by the Iceland players and their supporters during a fairy-tale run at this year’s Euro Championships.

The numbers in attendance at their last match against Harare City told a big story of belief and expectation.

“That’s innovation on the part of the supporters. But there is a lot in common anyway in that Iceland were almost an unknown entity in football but what they surpassed everyone’s expectations at the last Euros because of hard work.

“CAPS United on the other hand have been one of the traditional giants of Zimbabwean football but things have not been going on well in the recent past to the extent that some people were beginning to write us off. So this is a strong reminder that we are back and we are aiming big things,” said Kawadza.

“It’s always frustrating playing second fiddle to others in the last 11 years, especially Dynamos.  It was annoying because even when you seemed to have done everything correctly, the championship just evaded us. Sometimes we came close and on other occasions we finished down there.

“But this year the secret on the part of the team has been hard work, consistency and unity of purpose. As a club, you may go through some difficult moments but if you remain united, things always work out well at last.

“The boys need our support now more than ever. We have to come out in numbers in the last two games, we have to make the difference, and we must be vociferous.

“We would have wanted a situation where we played all our matches in quick succession so that we know our fate but there are some of the things that are beyond our control.

“There are no games this week but we can wait. We are patient, nonetheless. We will not let the anxiety and the excitement get the better of us.”