The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda —
ON December 11, 2005, Lloyd Chitembwe became the first Caps United player to win three league championship medals at Makepekepe, on a wet afternoon whose main highlight was the fairytale story of the now defunct Masvingo United.
Needing a victory or at least a draw to clinch the title, Caps United – who were two points clear of Masvingo United at the top – succumbed to a stunning 0-3 defeat against Black Rhinos at the National Sports Stadium.
However, in their hour of need, Makepekepe found an unlikely ally in old enemy Dynamos who beat Masvingo United at Mucheke that same day and the Green Machine clinched their second title in a row under an astute Charles Mhlauri.
Chitembwe had also featured for the trailblazing Class of 2004, a well-knit machine that powered its way to the championship podium with just a single loss in 30 games.
Before that, the gritty defensive linkman had anchored a classy midfield that featured club legend Joe “Kode” Mugabe and Farai “Headmaster” Mbidzo as Caps United won their second ever league title in 1996 under Steve “Dude” Kwashi.
And yesterday, in the Midlands capital of Gweru, the 45-year-old Chitembwe became the first person to win the league title with Makepekepe both as a player and a coach.
He was only eight-years-old when Caps United won their first league title in 1979. Now Chitembwe has grown to become the most successful individual ever at the green side of the capital city.
“Back in the late 1980s, in my childhood neighborhood of Unit A in Chitungwiza, boys who loved soccer were a subject of ridicule because it was all school and books.
“Taive ana Jah Bhora, those types of boys who ate, drank and slept soccer. But as I look back, I do so with pride because finally I have achieved something big in this game,” a euphoric Chitembwe said.
The 2016 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League race was made more intriguing because it featured two individuals who share the same background.
Both Chitembwe and FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza (44) grew up in the same neighborhood, their family houses are just 300m apart in Chitungwiza’s Unit A.
They both come from Honde Valley in Manicaland where their homesteads are 10km apart and villagers there share the same grazing land for their livestock.
They both cut their football teeth at Darryn T, a football project whose roots were in Chitungwiza and was founded by the shrewd Pole, Wieslaw Grabowski.
“I am actually inspired by Norman. I respect him for what he has done at FC Platinum. We sometimes sit for a chat though we never find enough time to exchange notes as busy coaches.
“But when we find time, I always tell him how much I respect the way he has changed the mentality of his players. He has also applauded some of the things that I have done at Caps United,” said Chitembwe.
Chitembwe might be nine months older than Mapeza but he has utmost respect for the former Warriors skipper and gaffer.
“I have everything that Norman has football-wise but he has a lot more that I do not have. You know, we have come a long way with him, our families share a lot back in Chitungwiza.
“In fact, when I met Norman’s father early last week he joked about the title race. Moda tisapote upi manje? he asked me, but I told him that is the beauty of this game.”
When Caps United were leading Ngezi Platinum last weekend, a part of Chitembwe wished Highlanders would lose against FC Platinum. Why? Because that would restrict the race to just him and his homeboy Mapeza.
“No disrespect to Bosso, but I felt it would only be a lot nicer if one of us would win the title. When Bosso lost kwakabva kwasara dzemudanga chete murace,” revealed Chitembwe.
The Caps United gaffer is a hot favourite to land the Coach of the Year Award when selectors converge in Harare on Tuesday to choose the best performers of the 2016 season.
“It is not about Lloyd, this is all about the whole Caps United family. Individual awards are good, yes, but to me the team comes first. I wouldn’t have done this if I didn’t have this special group of players. I wouldn’t have done it either if I didn’t have the support of club president Farai Jere,” said Chitembwe.
To some, the writing was on the wall when Chitembwe became the first Caps United coach to beat archrivals Dynamos in a league match in seven years when Makepekepe won 1-0 at Rufaro on May 1.
The signs were clearer when Dominic Chungwa headed home a 93rd minute winner as Caps United claimed a stunning 3-2 victory over How Mine at the National Sports Stadium on September 25.
It became more evident when Chitembwe masterminded one of the greatest ever comebacks in a Harare Derby when at 0-3 down in the last five minutes, Caps United rallied back to claim a crucial draw.
And yesterday that dream became a reality. It couldn’t have happened to a better coach and team.
