CAPS United manager Shakespear Chinogwenya says the Green Machine struggled to adjust to the pitch at Luveve as they crashed to their first defeat in the Castle Lager Premiership title race this year.

Makepekepe lost 1-2 to How Mine and dropped from the top of the Premiership table.

Chinogwenya said his men took time to adjust to the uneven surface at Luveve.

“I am not taking anything away from How Mine, they are a very competitive side. They controlled the first stanza of the game and were very quick to settle in the match,” said Chinogwenya.

“They were all over us, bombarding from all angles and they utilised their opportunities.

“But I am saying the pitch played a very big role in our defeat.

“That Luveve surface is bumpy so we took time to adjust. How Mine are used to that surface and our players took a lot of time trying to adjust.

“How Mine scored two goals when our boys were still struggling. We came out guns blazing in the second half and they played second fiddle but, unfortunately, the damage had already been done.

“With a little bit of luck, maybe, we could have picked at least a point.”

Chinogwenya said his team was fighting to win the championship and losing matches, in the marathon, was part of the reality of the tough race.

“CAPS United are a big institution and we are fighting to win the league title,” said Chinogwenya.

“The weekend defeat was very demoralising but we cannot mourn forever.

“The season is only six weeks old and there is no need for us to press the panic button. “We have to beat ZPC Kariba at home at the weekend and try to pick a positive result against Chicken Inn away next week to reshape our campaign.”

The game between CAPS United and ZPC Kariba has been moved to Rufaro on Saturday to pave way for the Zimbabwe Under-20 match against Cameroon at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday.