The Sunday Mail
CAPS UNITED have told Sydney Linyama that they are done with their transfer business but this has not stopped the lanky defender from training with the champions.
Linyama, who was offloaded by DeMbare at the last month, believes he has something special to offer the champions and is determined to prove his worth to Makepekepe coach Lloyd Chitembwe.
Linyama pitched up at the National Sports Stadium as the Green Machine prepared for their CAF Champions League preliminary round clash against Lioli but was immediately told that the club has enough arsenal.
In explaining Makepekepe’s transfer business approach, Chitembwe disclosed that the need to return the core of a championship winning outfit was always at the top of the agenda.
Caps United brought in Ronald Chitiyo and defender Last Sithole during the off season in moves that their coach said were meant to freshen up the team.
“What we did was go for the players we really needed, we didn’t want to destabilise the team. The first thing we wanted to do was to return the core of the squad which won the league last year and I am glad we did that.
“Yes we have been linked with several other players but that is mere speculation. We got the players we wanted and registered them for the Caf Champions League,” Chitembwe was quoted as saying in the build up to the first leg away in Lioli.
However, that public stance has not dissuaded Linyama.
Before popping up at Makepekepe, the defender had tried to retrace his way back to his former club Chicken Inn but Rahman Gumbo told him his services were not required.
While he took the Gamecocks’ snub in his stride, Linyama is not giving up on Caps United and is said to have made an impression on assistant coach Fungai “Tostao” Kwashi who is holding fort at the Green Machine in the absence of Chitembwe who is attending a CAF A coaching course.
Caps United chief executive Cuthbert Chitima and Kwashi conveniently referred questions to Chitembwe who was unreachable owing to his busy schedule at the CAF course.
“Nothing has come to the office about him (Linyama) as yet,” Chitima said.
“I can only be able to comment after he has been recommended to us by the coaches, which for now has not happened.
“But if you say you have been seeing him at training then the best people to talk to for now are those in the technical team.”
A source in the Makepekepe dressing room revealed that the club’s coaches appreciate Linyama’s talent but are unsure about his discipline.
“His ability has never been in doubt but the issue is he came a bit late and most importantly the club is worried by his tendency of going AWOL,” said the source.
“But now that he has proved his commitment by continuing to train, the club may be forced into a rethink.
“His cause might also be aided by the gap that was created after the departure of Stephen Makatuka for Amazulu of South Africa.”
New boy Sithole, who was signed from FC Platinum; Dennis Dauda, Justice Jangano and Carlton Munzabwa are the central defence options available to Chitembwe.
Dauda and Jangano did duty in the two CAF Champions League matches against Lioli and the pair was far from convincing with goalkeeper Edmore Sibanda being forced to act as a sweeper on several occasions.
