Caps United captain Richard Hachiro found himself at the centre of criticism on Sunday after the Green Machine suffered a 1-0 defeat to FC Hunters, with frustrated supporters claiming the midfielder no longer deserves a place in the team.
The defeat not only left Caps United empty-handed but also raised concerns over the club's midfield, where Hachiro partnered Tanaka Shandirwa and Kaonga in a performance that failed to inspire confidence.
As misplaced passes and poor communication disrupted Caps United's rhythm, supporters inside the stadium quickly turned their frustration towards the skipper.
"This is not the Caps United we know. They can't even complete eight passes," one supporter told ZimNow.
FC Hunters punished Caps United's bright start in the ninth minute when Godfrey Dabwa produced a moment of brilliance, gliding past three defenders before firing a strike beyond Washington Arubi to send the home crowd into celebration.
Caps United threatened to respond before the break, with Mugalu coming closest after his header flashed just wide, but the Green Machine went into the dressing room trailing 1-0.
The game appeared to change after coach Takesure Chiragwi withdrew Hachiro in the second half, with Caps United suddenly looking more dangerous going forward.
"You can see now the game has changed. Hachiro was costing us. There was poor communication in midfield," another supporter said.
Another fan suggested the captain may no longer be at his best.
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"It's been many games now with Hachiro not performing well. I think he is hiding an injury because his current performances are unjustifiable," he said.
Although Caps United dominated possession after the break and repeatedly pushed forward, they could not find a way past the FC Hunters defence.
"It was a tough result, but at the end of the day it wasn't our day," said Chiragwi.
"We created enough chances in the first half that could have seen us leading 3-1, but we failed to take them. They scored, and we couldn't get back into the game.
"We controlled large parts of the match, especially in the second half, but football is judged by goals and the result.
"Hunters got their goal because we defended poorly," he added.
FC Hunters coach Nesbert Saruchera praised his players for showing maturity after taking the lead.
"We didn't play our normal football after scoring because we had to manage the lead. Normally, we don't defend like that, but the boys followed the plan perfectly and protected our advantage," said Saruchera.
The victory lifted FC Hunters five points clear of the relegation zone, boosting their survival hopes.
"We really needed those three points as we fight for survival," he said.
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