Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Grace Chingoma
2 July 2009
Harare — CAPS United, seeking to mount a strong challenge for the Premiership title in the second half of the season, have signed five players they believe could give them consistency and the cutting edge in the battle for league honours.
The Green Machine have quietly gone about their business, during this transfer window, but The Herald can reveal today that they have been strengthening their side by bringing in experienced players and others who are rich in promise.
Makepekepe have had mixed fortunes in the opening half of the season, playing brilliantly one week, and then losing their style -- usually against lightweight opponents -- the next.
But for all the drama, they still remain within striking distance of leaders Dynamos, with half the season still to play, and the club's leadership believes they have assembled a team that could give them goals and the strength to last the distance.
While pressure has been piling on coach Lloyd Chitembwe, with a section of the club's fans questioning his credentials, the leadership have remained loyal to their man and believe they have found the personnel to complement the coach's efforts.
The club's leadership believes it is a measure of the good work that Chitembwe has put in so far that the Green Machine has evolved from a team that has been battling against relegation, in the past few seasons, to one they believe can win the championship.
The CAPS United directors have brought exciting striker Dylan Chivandire from Njube Sundowns on a three-year-deal, hoping he will provide both the goals, and the competition among their forward line-up, to make them a successful side.
Gangly forward Tendai "DJ Malaika" also returns to the CAPS United fold after a stint at Lengthens with the Green Machine tying him to a two-year deal.
Experienced forward Lazarus Muhoni, who played for bitter rivals Dynamos before returning to his roots at Black Rhinos, has also been signed until the end of next season.
CAPS United are gambling on Muhoni's aerial strength and experience to provide the supporting role for their forward line-up and get the goals they believe could power them to success.
Audience Rundofa, who arrived at Dynamos with hopes high that he would make a big impact, before fizzling out as the weight of expectations destroyed his confidence, has also been recruited by CAPS United.
He arrives with former Air Zimbabwe star Richard Mateuzo. CAPS United director Farai Jere believes they have brought both experience and youthful enthusiasm and their additions will transform the Green Machine into a consistent fighting force in the second half of the season.
Consistency is what wins the league championship and CAPS United have badly lacked in this area -- beating Dynamos in one match and then slumping to a shock defeat at the hands of Kiglon in the next game.
Now Jere believes they have the balance they need for the decisive second half of the season and the combination of the new players and the old ones could help Chitembwe and justify their confidence in the coach.
"We have signed a number of players from the Premiership and Division One and we hope these will have a big impact in the second half of the season to our team," said Jere.
"Dylan is a good striker on the domestic front as well as "DJ Malaika" while Audience was scoring goals for Jets and Richard is a left back, also from Jets, who has Premiership experience.
"Blessing Mazorodze, who was on loan at Kiglon, is also rejoining us to help stabilise our defence and so we believe we are assembling a balanced unit that should serve us well in the second half of the season.
"We acknowledge the concern that has come from some quarters of the CAPS United family and, as one strong unit, we are always ready to listen to them -- especially our fans -- because they play a big part in the success of the team.
"But we have also spent countless hours as directors trying to find the best formula for success because we believe that, for everything that has happened in the first half of the season, CAPS United is sitting in a good position to challenge for the championship.
"Of course, we could have been in a better position but let's accept that is where we are and there are some teams who can do anything to exchange their positions with us.
"We have realised that we were probably coming short in certain positions because there was no real competition and, at times, there was no experience.
"That is why we have brought people like Muhoni and the other guys and we are of the firm belief that we will have a balanced team that will do very well."
Jere reiterated that they had confidence in Chitembwe. "The coach has done incredibly well, despite a number of challenges, and we believe we need to support him because his heart is with this team and we have the confidence that he will come good.
"If we don't support him, in our family, then our rivals will find a way of coming and disturbing our focus and that will be really dangerous for our team.
"The facts will tell you that, in the past few years, we have struggled and fought against relegation during the first half of the season but this year, we are not far away from the team that is leading the championship race, and we need to praise the coach.
"When we won some big games, we celebrated as one united family and that is the same spirit that we should show all the time, rather than carrying this grudge to the extent that we wish the team could lose so that pressure mounts on Lloyd.
"He is a young coach and he is doing his very best, in a challenging environment, and he needs the support of everyone and the directors are doing their part and giving him the right players.
"If Dynamos could turn around their season, with their brilliant run, then we can do the same and we believe the second half of the season will be exciting for us."
Jere said the club could off-load some players, depending on what the coach wants, during this period.
He also said assistant coach Kennedy Nagoli would not be part of the technical team in the second half and Chitembwe would be given the power to choose his assistant.
"We understand Nagoli is in South Africa looking for a coaching post there and we wish him well after enjoying a good relationship with him.
"So we have tasked the coach to look for another assistant. Lloyd has a three-year contract and he has done well and we believe he could lead us to success, if we are patient, the same way that Charles Mhlauri did."
The Green Machine will play a friendly match against Black Rhinos at Gwanzura on Sunday where they will parade all their mid-season acquisitions.
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