The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda
NINETEEN games unbeaten at the National Sports Stadium, 35 goals scored at the giant arena against only 12 conceded: what a journey it has been for Lloyd Chitembwe and his special group of Caps United players. As he stands on the cusp of glory, Chitembwe knows victory against Ngezi Platinum Stars in his 20th home game since his appointment on September 1, 2015 will push him closer to a first-ever league title as a coach.
The 45-year-old Chitembwe, who won three league championship medals with Makepekepe as a player in 1996, 2004 and 2005, can clinch the title this afternoon.
That is if he outwits Tonderai Ndiraya’s Ngezi and Norman Mapeza fails to get the better of Erol Akbay in a blockbuster battle between FC Platinum and Highlanders at Mandava.
It is an afternoon of wits, an afternoon of girding of loins, an afternoon when a league title will be won and lost.
This is the penultimate stage of a riveting season that has seen Caps United, FC Platinum and Highlanders all swap positions at the top of the log standings at different stages of the season.
Now on 57 points, two more than FC Platinum, Caps United assumed pole position on October 9 after walloping Border Strikers 3-1 at Dulivhadzimu.
It is pressure cooker time for Chitembwe, but the gaffer looked relaxed as he reflected on a journey that began with a 0-0 draw against Buffaloes at the National Sports on September 13, 2015.
“It has been a very fascinating journey, a great exploration in as far as I am concerned,” said Chitembwe. “There a lot of good things that I have seen within this group of players. There are a lot of good things that I have also noticed ever since I came back to Caps United last season. It has been a wonderful experience,” he said.
Chitembwe is on the verge of becoming the first person to win the league championship with Caps United both as a player and as a coach.
The man some call Papa Lodza went into battle alongside awesome players in Steve “Dude” Kwashi’s 1996 squad, and featured in an intelligent midfield of 2004 and 2005 when Caps United won back-to-back league titles under Charles Mhlauri.
But he feels something special for the Class of 2016.
“This team has certain qualities that are not normal. We have had our own financial challenges but these boys have soldiered on. They have defied the meaning of money. They play and go onto do well despite the situation that we have sometimes found ourselves in,” said Chitembwe.
“This is not about Lloyd: God and these amazing players have made it all possible. Always, I do not forget the club president Farai Jere; he has been there for us through and through.”
The former Warriors defensive linkman got some stick for his choice of players in the off-season but he has been vindicated as Makepekepe now stand on the threshold of glory.
Chitembwe’s faith in old horses like Method Mwanjali, Edmore “Zi Keeper” Sibanda and Leonard Tsipa was criticised in some quarters.
However, Tsipa has been the pillar of Caps United’s success so far. The 34-year-old striker is the Castle Lager PSL top goal-scorer with 11 goals and is among the favourites for the Soccer Star of the Year Award.
Sibanda has weighed in with crucial saves in the games he has played. “I always believed in the players that I assembled and I feel vindicated that I was spot on in my assessment of the whole team,” he said. Caps United’s success has been premised on a successful run at the National Sports.
They are unbeaten at the giant stadium and it is there that they have staged some of the most gripping comebacks of the season. If Caps United are to win the championship, they will look back at two special Sundays at the NSS.
On September 29, Makepekepe seemed headed for a 2-2 draw after How Mine equalised in the last minute of normal time but Dominic Chungwa headed home a magical winner in stoppage time. Another Houdini act would follow in the Harare derby of October 16.
Trailing 0-3 going into the last five minutes, Caps United looked doomed. But goals from Dennis Dauda (brace) and Amon Kambanje ensured one of the greatest ever comebacks in a Harare derby.
Chitembwe attributes the remarkable spell to steadfast self-belief.
“When we are at the National Sports we are at home for sure. There is self-belief among the players that we should not lose at this ground,” he said.
