Harare — CAPS UNITED have saluted their band of Warriors who provided the heart of the national team that powered to glory in the Cosafa Senior Challenge Cup but believe that it will take a miracle for them to complete a Cinderella story by capturing the CBZ Premiership title this season.

The Green Machine supplied six of the Warriors who started the final against bitter rivals Zambia at Rufaro on Sunday, including inspirational skipper Method Mwanjali, and they all played a huge part in the national team's stunning 3-1 triumph over Chipolopolo.

Big goalminder Eddie Sibanda, voted the Goalkeeper of the Tournament, impressive wingback Gilbert Mapemba, midfielders Ashley Rambanapasi and Tafadzwa Rusike and striker Nyasha Mushekwi, joined Mwanjali in the Warriors' starting XI in the final against Zambia.

Mushekwi, returning from injury, struck twice in that match in the first half and helped the Warriors recover from the setback of falling behind to create the foundation on which they eventually built their success story against the Zambians.

Rarely has one team provided so much playing personnel, to the cause of the senior national side, and the joy within the CAPS United camp, emanating from the contribution of their Warriors to the Zimbabwean cause during the Cosafa Senior Challenge Cup, is justifiable.

Their triumphant band of half-a-dozen Warriors has since returned into the CAPS United fold, with their focus now changing from national duty to the cause of their beloved Green Machine, with the battle for the Premiership title getting underway again this weekend.

CAPS United are eight points behind leaders and city rivals Dynamos, but they have a game in hand, and could cut that deficit to five points -- a position that still keeps them in the race for the title should they win their outstanding match.

Makepekepe have five games left before the end of their season and, should they beat Lengthens at Rufaro on Sunday and Dynamos lose at Barbourfields against Highlanders, the Green Machine could cut the deficit to just two points with a win in their outstanding match against Black Rhinos in mid-week.

With 12 points still to play for, in the event of such a scenario and, crucially, a game between Dynamos and Gunners still to be played, there is still a big chance that the CBZ Premiership standings could change dramatically and open a window for CAPS United.

However, the Green Machine coach Lloyd Chitembwe is not being carried away by the possibility that his team could stage one of the greatest comeback stories, in recent years, by powering to glory in the race for the Premiership title.

That would complete a great season for his band of Warriors who have just emerged from a two-week battle in which they helped inspire Zimbabwe to success in the Cosafa Senior Challenge Cup.

Chitembwe yesterday hailed his players for the way they contributed to the cause of the national team.

"It gives me a great feeling because it's a reflection of the hard work that has been put in by everyone at the club, including the directors and the fans, to transform the players into national team material this season," said Chitembwe.

"It has been a big change because these are the same players who were battling against relegation in the last few seasons but have now changed into a group that can perform very well for their national team and win such a major trophy.

"I've been telling the boys that it's refreshing that they have changed their attitude to the game, they now have the right frame of mind and they now view football in a very professional manner and they respect the coaches and everyone involved.

"I'm happy that together we have managed to change a lot and the transformation is there for everyone to see given that the players are no longer relegation material but key members of the national team that wins the Cosafa Cup.

"We have made some big strides and everyone has worked very hard for that and if we keep on working together, I can assure you that this team can win some big things very soon."

Chitembwe, though, doesn't believe that his team can win this year's Premiership title and insists that they left it until too late to mount their challenge and the realistic battle is now between Dynamos and Gunners.

"I don't believe that we are still in the championship race. While mathematically we still have a chance and things can change very quickly in football, I don't want to pile pressure on my team by dreaming about the championship when it is clear that the battle is between Dynamos and Gunners," said Chitembwe.

"Dynamos are in the best position, as the team on top of the log, and the key issue is that we don't have control of our destiny and we need to depend on events, which we can't control, going in our favour and you can't build your championship hopes on such things.

"If we were in control of our destiny, like Dynamos, then probably we could have said that there is a big chance that we could win the championship.

"Now, the point is that we can win all our remaining five games and still that could not be enough for us to win the championship and, once you are in such a position, it is better not to even try and think about the possibility that it can happen.

"As far as I'm concerned, the challenge that we have as CAPS United is to win our next league match and, if we do that, we will then try and win the next and also do the same until the end of the season.

"That is all the fans and the directors want us to do, to win the next game, and if we do that, then we try and win the next one and the next one and, at the end of the season, see where we will be on the log."

CAPS United have a tough date against BancABC Sup8r Cup winners Lengthens at Rufaro on Sunday and Chitembwe believes his focus should be concentrated on that game only rather than beyond that encounter.

"The players who were with the national team are back and it's a big boost because they seem to be in good condition and we will see what happens," said Chitembwe.

"When we went into the break for the Cosafa Cup, we had picked the right form and we will try to get back to that level and see how it goes.

"We would have wanted to be in the position that Dynamos and Gunners are, in control of our destiny, but that's not the case and we have to just play our matches, try and win them, and see what happens next."

Red-hot forward Mushekwi, who leads the race for the Golden Boot and, possibly, also the Golden Ball that goes to the Soccer Star of the Year, returns to the CAPS United fold hoping to continue with the goal-scoring form that has made him the hottest property in the game here.

The big striker struck twice as he led the Warriors to a 3-1 win over Zambia that helped them lift the Cosafa Senior Challenge Cup before a packed Rufaro on Sunday.

Mushekwi had terrorised domestic defences, in the countdown to the Cosafa Senior Challenge Cup, scoring for fun and it helped him take over pole position in the race for the Golden Ball that goes to the Soccer Star of the Year, returns to the CAPS United fold hoping to continue with the goal-scoring form that has made him the hottest property in the game here. The big striker struck twice as he led the Warriors to a 3-1 win over Zambia that helped them lift the Cosafa Senior Challenge Cup before a packed Rufaro on Sunday.

Mushekwi had terrorised domestic defences, in the countdown to the Cosafa Senior Challenge Cup, scoring for fun and it helped him take over pole position in the race for the Golden Boot.

CBZ PREMIERSHIP TABLE

P W D L F A Pts

Dynamos 26 15 5 6 38 15 50

Gunners 26 14 7 5 40 24 49

CAPS United 25 11 9 5 33 22 42

Lengthens 26 11 8 7 25 18 41

S/Stars 26 9 11 6 29 23 38

Hwange 26 10 7 9 29 28 37

Highlanders 25 9 9 7 23 18 36

Monomotapa 26 9 8 9 35 36 35

Eagles 26 9 8 9 20 24 35

Kiglon 26 8 9 9 29 27 33

Bantu Rvrs 26 7 8 11 22 26 29

M/Action 26 4 15 7 20 25 27

Highway 25 6 9 10 23 29 27

Sundowns 25 6 8 11 26 37 26

Underhill 26 6 7 13 22 38 25

Black Rhinos 26 4 7 15 18 42 19

DYNAMOS LAST SEVEN LEAGUE GAMES

SOS Projected Score Actual DeMbare Score

Sundowns Draw Loss

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CAPS United Loss Draw

Highway Draw Win

Bantu Rovers Win Win

Monomotapa Draw Loss

Hwange Win Win

Lengthens Win Loss

Total -- 12 out of 21 Total -- 10 out of 21

DYNAMOS REMAINING GAMES

SOS Projected Score

Highlanders Loss

Kiglon Win

Gunners Draw

S/Stars Draw

PROJECTED FINAL DYNAMOS TALLY

P W D L Pts

Dynamos 30 16 7 7 55

GUNNERS LAST FIVE GAMES

SOS Projected Score Actual Gunners Score

Kiglon Win Draw

Bantu Rovers Loss Draw

Eagles Win Win

Njube Sundowns Win Win

Shooting Stars Loss Loss

Total - 9 out of 15 Total - 8 out of 15

GUNNERS REMAINING GAMES

SOS Projected Score

Highway Win

Monomotapa Draw

Dynamos Draw

Lengthens Draw

PROJECTED FINAL GUNNERS TALLY

P W D L Pts

Gunners 30 15 10 5 55

CAPS UNITED LAST SIX GAMES

Actual CAPS Utd Score

Njube Sundowns Win (1-0, Mushekwi)

Shooting Stars Draw (1-1, Mushekwi)

Highlanders Draw (0-0)

Monomotapa Win (4-3, Mushekwi 3)

Kiglon Win (3-0, Mushekwi 3)

Highway Win (2-0, Mushekwi 2)

CAPS UNITED REMAINING GAMES

SOS Projected CAPS Utd Score

Lengthens Win

Black Rhinos Win

Underhill Win

Motor Action Win

Bantu Rovers Win

PROJECTED FINALS CAPS UNITED TALLY

P W D L Pts

CAPS United 30 16 9 5 57

SOS PROJECTED FINAL CBZ PREMIERSHIP LOG

P W D L Pts

CAPS UNITED 30 16 9 5 57

DYNAMOS 30 16 7 7 55

GUNNERS 30 15 10 5 55

Please Note: The SOS Projected Scores represents the views of the projected scores derived from the Sharuko on Saturday column that appears in this newspaper on Saturdays and there is a margin of error to the projections.