Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Petros Kausiyo
6 January 2009
Harare — LLOYD CHITEMBWE was officially installed as the new CAPS United mentor yesterday as the ailing Premiership giants moved in to quickly to put their house in order following the acrimonious weekend departure of cup-winning coach Jostein Mathuthu.
Chitembwe will immediately get down to business today when CAPS United begin their preparations for the Caf Confederation Cup by regrouping for their first session of 2009 at Danny Bismarck.
The former Zimbabwe and CAPS United midfielder will be assisted by fellow former Warriors international Kennedy Nagoli in the new Makepekepe set-up.
CAPS United turned to Chitembwe after their fallout with Mathuthu, who guided them to ABC Supr8 and CBZ FA Cup glory as well as a great escape from relegation on the final day of the season.
Despite leading CAPS United to glory in the two major knock-out tournaments and Premiership survival, the club and Mathuthu parted ways in acrimony at the weekend amid reports of serious mistrust between the two parties and allegations that Makepekepe owed the coach three months' salary and CBZ FA Cup winning bonuses amounting to US$10 000.
Mathuthu had only been in the volatile CAPS United coaching job for six months when he parted ways with the club.
But the CAPS United management appear to have put behind their problems with Mathuthu at least for now and have turned to Chitembwe, who served them with distinction as a player, to take over the reins in their dressing room.
Interestingly, Chitembwe cut his coaching teeth at CAPS United when he was elevated to player-assistant coach when the former champions were under the guidance of Charles Mhlauri.
Chitembwe also worked with Gishon Ntini at CAPS United after Mhlauri had left the club to take up a full-time post with the Warriors.
His first major assignment on his return to CAPS United will be the Confederation Cup preliminary round tie against Victors FC of Uganda at the end of the month before he leads his team into battle against his former Warriors teammate Norman Mapeza's Monomotapa in the Nestle Champion of Champions Charity Shield.
Chitembwe, who had been a target of the CAPS United management since May last year when the club fired Luke Masomere, yesterday revealed that he was relishing the opportunity of taking charge of Makepekepe as head coach.
Then Chitembwe snubbed the CAPS United job, arguing that he had a moral obligation to honour his contract with Kiglon, which was set to run until the end of last year.
But Kiglon fired the 38-year-old coach in August following a player revolt against him and a string of poor results.
After emerging from a five-month sabbatical to take over as the CAPS United gaffer, Chitembwe believes he has become a better coach despite being on the sidelines for the last half of the season.
"After Kiglon, I did not rush to get a new job. I needed time to analyse our football, reflect on what I did wrong and what I did right and to find ways to consolidate on the things that we did right and I am sure I am coming back into the game a better coach."
Chitembwe said he was also eager to "bring back glory to CAPS United" after watching them fight against relegation in the last three seasons.
"I will start work tomorrow (today) when we hold our training session at Danny Bismarck Stadium. It is a great feeling to be back at this institution although the roles and duties are now different.
"When I was last at the club, I was basically a player and that was less challenging with lesser responsibilities," Chitembwe said.
Chitembwe, who also played professional football in Poland and South Africa, insisted that he was not under any illusions of the challenges that he would face at CAPS United, whose fans are a demanding lot and have helped make the coaching job at the club a volatile task.
"The challenges at the moment are huge, but for me I think the main challenge is to try and restore the club where I think it belongs . . . the standards that I used to work under as a player and I believe that task can be achieved."
Chitembwe is also aware that he will have limited choice over players as he takes over the hot seat when the club had already finalised their Confederation Cup squad in line with the Confederation of African Football's deadline for player registration.
"We will try to do out best with the squad that we have. The challenges are just the same when it comes to coaching because you have to produce results whether in a friendly or competitive game".
Chitembwe also acknowledged that CAPS United had become synonymous with a high turnover of coaches, but insisted that the club's "rich history" meant that coaches would not last if they failed to produce results.
"Football institutions as big as CAPS United are characterised by high expectations that we will do well all the time and, as I said, that is the challenge to re-establish the glory at the team.
"But it not going to be a one-man show, it has to be a collective organ within the system, from the management, the playing staff, the technical department to the supporters.
"We all have to focus on the mission before us.
"I am also aware of the turnover of coaches at the club, but I think it is because it is a pressure job. At CAPS United there is always pressure to deliver and if I do not get results I don't think I will also last or enjoy my career. But I am confident and I am hoping I will get the results so that I can stay for a long time," Chitembwe said.
He also spoke on the issue of discipline in the club, something that Mathuthu complained of during his short stint with there.
Chitembwe said it was imperative that his charges become a disciplined lot and hinted that he would not tolerate errant players.
"For any institution to be successful, discipline is a top priority and likewise for me it is priority number one.
"A good professional player has to walk within the strict professional lines of such a player. If I can be at the training ground 30 minutes before training starts, I expect the players to do that: and if I can be at training for five days a week, then the same should apply."
Despite former Ziscosteel midfielder Nagoli not having any previous coaching experience to talk about, Chitembwe was optimistic that the duo would strike a workable combination.
"Kennedy once came to Darryn T and we played together there for a year. We also played together at the Warriors and I am sure we share a lot in common because we were also roommates during camp at Darryn T and on the occasions that we played together in the national team.
"I don't think we will have any problems working there as coaches now."
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