The ManicaPost
SO CAPS United coach Lloyd Chitembwe will have a two-fanged task this season — that of securing MaKepeKepe a podium finish, and also give some legs to warhorses he conscripted for this 2018 campaign. Denver Mukamba, Wisdom Mutasa, Dennis Dauda, Method Mwanjali and Oscar Machapa have had issues elsewhere on their football paths and now Chitembwe is on their case; out to refresh their careers and hope that the same magic that brought Leonard Tsipa and Devon Chafa around into Soccer Star of the Year finalists will work on the quintet too.
Fortunately, Roderick Mutuma, another rolling which has thus far not gathered any moss, had the door shut in his face; otherwise throwing him into the mix, to make a sixsome, would have been a recipe for disaster!
As for Dauda — as is with Mutuma, who was also grovelling for a return — what is it that has now changed at CAPS United that has interested or excited him; a club he previously had dumped?
Already, the Green Machine are being taunted as having assembled “an old people’s home” — or “creche yemadhara” as those imbibers in Dangamvura call that popular hangout spot, The Rozvi Sports Bar — and it remains to be seen if some of the experience in their ranks will carry the day, or perhaps the season, for them. And if things do not go their way, antagonists will hasten to rub it in.
But while Chitembwe has a growing reputation of being a strict disciplinarian whose effective man-management mends stars’ wayward ways, has he not bitten more than he can chew this time around?
Skeptics think this is tantamount to turning the club into a rehab hub. Pointlessly burdening himself with the load of trying to play messiah Lloyd has, they say. Non-believers have not been inspired by Chitembwe’s assembly. Quality is one thing and quantity another, they reckon.
Absolving themselves of any prejudice, they are taking this squad with a pinch of salt and finding it hard to swallow that it will be the team to beat.
Well, time is the greatest master to which we are all slaves and is thus the ultimate test and we, therefore, leave it all to its passage to prove things right or wrong.
Perhaps one among these “frogs” will turn into a charming prince after Chitembwe gives a kiss of life to their ostensibly troubled careers, consequently becoming crucial cogs that will get a well-oiled Green Machine functioning and firing at full throttle.
Hothead Mario Balotelli has shown us how players, after a change of environment, can mellow into maturity and deliver on another stage.
His switch from the Premier League to Ligue 1 tells the story.
If it is about football that you care let’s share the cheer because we are made for the game, mad about the game!
Feedback
The first matches of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League 2018 season were interesting. The most fascinating part was that newcomers Herentals have Innocent Benza as the oldest player to make his Premiership debut at the age of 45. The matches were also played fairly without hooliganism and violence. — Tawanda Mhlanga, Dangamvura.
For interaction send your views, comments and contributions through feedback on WhatsApp or sms to 0736 036 593 or e-mail:[email protected]
