The Sunday Mail
The Caps United captain’s armband has a rich history. Think of the likes of the late Joel “Jubilee” Shambo, Joe “Kode” Mugabe and Silver “Bonzo” Chigwenje. These are big shoes to fill.
And many have failed to fill those boots. Think of underwhelming captains like Edmore Chafungamoyo and Tsungie Mudzamiri. Makepekepe’s interim coach Mark Mathe admits that his acting skipper Moses Muchenje lacks some leadership qualities.
However, the gaffer insists he has seen enough in the midfielder to mould him into the captain he desires.
Questions have been thrown Makepekepe’s way following the appointment of the former Gunners midfielder as a replacement for Hardlife Zvirekwi. Although a permanent fixture on the Caps United team card since joining from Gunners at the beginning of the 2013 season, the 24-year-old is yet to live to the promise that heralded his arrival.
Muchenje has also not exhibited the requisite leadership qualities needed to steer such a big team.
However, Mathe reckons Muchenje can develop into a “super captain” in the mould of English Premier League stalwart John Terry of Chelsea.
“You see there is another angle to it that you probably are not seeing. We need to groom and that we cannot deviate from,” said Mathe on Thursday after watching his charges being held to a disappointing draw by Premiership debutants Tsholotsho FC.
“John Terry is a good captain today, but he was groomed into that so he (Muchenje) is also being groomed. The point I am making is where do you get a super captain? Where does he come from? You can’t be born a super captain, you are groomed into one.
“So far he is ok, I can’t complain, he has signs of developing into a brilliant leader but probably the energy behind your questions is Caps United is a big team, you probably need player X or player D to be captain who can fit the bill.
“You must also know that he is there on an acting basis together with Leonard Tsipa and Stephen Makatuka until such a time when we can appoint a substantive captain,” said Mathe. Some sections of the Green Machine faithful say Muchenje lacks the passion and drive needed to be a successful skipper. Muchenje might need a lesson or two from defender Makatuka who did not take lightly to Thursday’s share of spoils and appeared to apportion the blame on Caps’ shortcomings rather than Tsholotsho’s brilliance.
Miffed by the failure to bag three points, Makatuka had to be restrained by unused substitute George Nyirenda as he charged at Dominic Chungwa demanding to know how and why he missed several clear-cut chances. Goalkeeper Jorum Muchambo was not spared either as the defender accused him of gifting Tsholotsho a soft goal. Maybe some of that bite will rub off on Muchenje.
