Caps United’s senior citizen

AT 96, and still able to grasp the current affairs at Caps United; Marondera-based nonagenarian Showa Musupuwa could arguably be Makepekepe’s oldest supporter.

He knows things are not well at the Green Machine, which is dismantling following the departure of key players, with more expected to leave for trials in North Africa this week, but the Mozambican-born Musupuwa remains hopeful.

Golden Boot award winner Dominic Chungwa left Caps United for Polokwane City last week, Edmore “Zi Keeper” Sibanda is now a Witbank Spurs goalie while gifted central midfielder Devon Chafa is expected in Egypt where he has been linked with Smouha and Petrojet.

Moses Muchenje has also been linked with a move to Cairo while doubts still linger over the future of Phineas Bamusi and intelligent striker John Zhuwau.

Consequently, Caps United coach Lloyd Chitembwe could be in for a taxing pre-season as he embarks on a major rebuilding exercise at the 2016 champions.

However, for 96-year-old Musupuwa, who began to support Caps united at its inception in 1977, there is no reason to panic.

“Caps United will go on, players will go but some will also come to join the team.

“This has happened over the years . . . hapana chekutya apo,” said Musupuwa, as he scratched his bald head and wrinkled forehead.

His official identity card shows that he is 83 but Musupuwa, like many other nonagenarians, was a victim of the skewed ID registration processes that characterised the Rhodesian era.

When The Sunday Mail arrived at his residence, Musupuwa was wearing a green Makepekepe replica jersey and quickly got into his favourite subject, Caps United.

“Last season the Green Machine lost to Dynamos 0-2 in the first leg before winning 1-0 in the second leg at Rufaro.

“I followed the second game on radio and I was excited. Reading is now a problem so usually I have to follow my team on radio,” said Musupuwa at his home in Dombotombo.

He went down memory lane, reminiscing on some violent incidences that usually characterise the Harare Derbies between Caps United and Dynamos.

To him, DeMbare supporters are the bad guys and Makepekepe fans are the good guys.

“DeMbare is full of hooligans. One day in the 1980s I sat among Dynamos fans at Gwanzura and made the mistake of celebrating a Caps United goal.

“I was thrown down the terraces by angry DeMbare supporters. But that was all part of the rivalry between Caps United and Dynamos.

“I remember we would mock Dynamos supporters, reminding them that when one fell ill he would require pills and not tobacco.

“Remember Makepekepe had its roots in that CAPS company which supplied pills while Dynamos had its roots in a tobacco company,” he said.

Then there’s one emotional incident which he has never forgotten throughout the years and it is the death of Caps United players Blessing “Yogo Yogo” Makunike, Garry Mashoko and Shingirai Arlon.

The trio died in car accident along the Harare-Bulawayo highway on their way from Caps United 2-1 win over Njube Sundowns in March 2004.

And Musupuwa has kept a T-shirt inscribed with the players’ names, as a reminder of “these gallant sons of Makepekepe”.

“Zvakatirwadza (their death pained us a lot), I still remember they were coming from a game and they were involved in an accident.

“I also remember that Caps United went onto win the league title which they had not won in a long time.”

Caps United won back-to-back league titles between 2004 and 2005 under the tutelage of Charles Mhlauri.

Makepekepe had last won the league title in 1996.

“I know Caps United didn’t win the title in the just ended season, I will need someone to remind me who were the winners but what I am sure of is that Makepekepe had won it the season before (2016).

“My last wish is to watch a live match of my favourite team,” was Musupuwa’s parting shot.

His wife, Spiwe Mapfumo, is 65 and Musupuwa has 28 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Such is Musupuwa’s love for Makepekepe that he chased away Dynamos supporters from his birthday party held at his home last year.