The Sunday Mail
THE training regime has changed at Caps United with more emphasis being put on tactical drills. The return of Lloyd Chitembwe at the helm has ushered in a new way of doing things and every player is eager to impress the new coach.
“It’s like we are beginning a new season, everyone is fighting to impress the coach. He has told us there is no time to waste,” a senior player revealed during the week.
Chitembwe, a gritty midfielder during his heyday at Caps United, has returned for a third stint as Makepekepe coach after a three-year absence.
Today he starts the latest chapter in front of home fans as Makepekepe lock horns with relegation-haunted Buffaloes at the National Sports Stadium.
Caps United go into this encounter on the back of a 1-2 loss to Chapungu at Ascot and Chitembwe appreciates that the Premiership landscape has changed a lot during his absence.
He is aware United have been ravaged by a goal famine and it is in this vein that he wants to revive faded former Soccer Star of the Year finalist Joel “Josta” Ngodzo and make him the creative hub of the Green Machine.
“The fans are justified when they demand results, they know Makepekepe is a giant, it is a team that has the capacity to be on top of everyone.
“This club should be winning the league three or four times in a row,” said Chitembwe.
Although he has been given the reins until the end of the season, after which a performance appraisal will determine whether he stays or not, Chitembwe is already looking into the long term.
“I am looking into the future, this is not about immediate results. It is better to have the right kind of foundation, then build success from that. I do not believe in having a kind of success that is not sustained.
“It makes no sense winning the league once then go for 10 or so years without winning again,” he said.
On 30 points, Caps United are six points outside the top four that club president Farai Jere has demanded.
Makepekepe are winless in their last three matches and have collected a paltry five points out of a possible 15 in their last five outings.
An impotent strike force that has only found the net three times in the last six games should concern Chitembwe.
“We have to start picking up points, try and win as many games as possible in the last nine fixtures, then see where we finish.
“We have to improve the team, but it is not like the coaches who were there didn’t do a good job. I am taking over from where they left,” he said.
On Ngodzo, the hands-on gaffer believes the former Highlanders and FC Platinum star, will play a crucial role in the club’s attack line.
“Josta (Ngodzo) is one of the few players who possess that unique technical ability. As they say, form is temporary but class is permanent.
“He needs to make sure he works hard so that he achieves a lot more for himself and the team,” he said.
Meanwhile, Saul Chaminuka insists his Buffaloes will avoid the chop.
“While others could be thinking of relegation, I am actually concerned about getting a respectable position at the end of the season. We are not going to be relegated,” Chaminuka declared during the week.
Today’s fixtures
WhaWha v Triangle (Ascot), Dongo Sawmill v Chapungu (Vengere), Caps United v Buffaloes (NSS), Tsholotsho v How Mine (White City)
