The ManicaPost
Ray Bande Senior Sports Reporter—
| CAPS United gaffer, Lloyd Chitembe, who is on the threshold of capping a memorable season by being named the 2016 domestic Premiership coach of the year tonight (Friday night), believes his club’s success story in the just-ended season had all to do with sacrifice and dedication than money. |
The Harare giants won their first Premiership title in 11 years after beating Chapungu 1-0 at Ascot Stadium in Gweru last Saturday. This was despite a spirited attempt by FC Platinum who beat Tsholotsho 3-0 at Luveve Stadium in Bulawayo on the same day.
It was indeed a moment to savour for the Green Machine, a team that had challenges in paying their players, let alone travelling to fulfil away fixtures owing to well documented biting financial challenges.
But a solitary strike by Simba Nhivi in the second minute was enough to see the Green Machine clinch a long-awaited championship triumph in a nervy Saturday afternoon that could have easily seen FC Platinum being crowned champions if CAPS United had slipped in Gweru.
Nhivi struck after only two minutes when some fans were still trickling into the stadium and for 90 or so minutes and Caps United hung on.
It had been indeed a long wait for CAPS United since 2005 when they won the last of back-to-back titles under Charles Mhlauri.
Interestingly, the last time they won it was in 2005 and Chitembwe was still a reputable defensive linkman, anchoring a star-studded midfield moulded by Mhlauri.
He had won it the previous year as a player and back in 1996 under Steve “The Dude” Kwashi.
Last Saturday, Chitembwe rewrote Caps United’s history book.
In an interview with Post Sport on the sidelines of the Castle Lager Premiership soccer stars of the year selection in Harare on Tuesday, Chitembwe, said his club’s success story in the just-ended season had all to do with sacrifice and dedication than money.
Reliving the eventful season in which his club achieved what well financed clubs failed to, Chitembwe reckons that divine intervention won the day for Makepekepe.
“It has been a long journey, glory be to God. That is the first thing I can say. Without His guidance and presence in our camp, we would not have achieved it.
“Special mention goes to the players, their perseverance was awesome. I really want to attribute this success to proper planning and unity of purpose though we were left to soldier on under very difficult circumstances.
“We had the belief as a team and we would not have come this far if we did not believe in ourselves. Yes, we had serious challenges and I can safely say none of the clubs in the top five had surmountable challenges like we had. It was not really about the money. No. Not at all! It had more to do with the unity of purpose, dedication and sacrifice by the players,” he said.
The former midfield genius, said he was looking forward to a memorable Africa safari in the Caf Champions League.
“Our aim remains the same. We are geared to win each match as it comes. The targets remain the same and that is to win every other match we will play in the Caf Champions League.
“The good thing is that we have that unity of purpose and the desire to plan things properly. This is why we went for the two weeks camp in Mozambique at the start of the season. We had a vision of the things that we wanted to achieve and it worked out,” said Chitembwe.
