The Sunday Mail
Don Makanyanga
Sports Reporter
FOLLOWING the expiry of his contract with Ngezi Platinum Stars on December 31, 2021, Devon Chafa needed to find a new home, but with a club in Harare that would ensure he was close to his family.
When he moved to Zvishavane, they stayed put in Harare.
“Having spent close to five years away, I needed a team that afforded me more time with my family, so signing for a club based in Harare was as good as killing two birds with one stone,” he told The Sunday Mail Sport.
Surrounded by Dynamos faithfuls in his family, who include his uncle Lloyd “Mablanyo” Chigowe and his mother, a return to DeMbare would have appeared the easiest choice.
That was until Chafa received a phone call from CAPS United coach Lloyd Chitembwe as he sought his services once again.
The telephone conversation changed everything for a seven-time Premiership championship winner, who agreed a second homecoming to Makepekepe.
In 2016, he won the league title with the team under Chitembwe.
But the 31-year-old defensive midfielder needed to convince his family he was making the right decision by spurning an offer to rejoin Dynamos, with whom he also won the championship under Kalisto Pasuwa.
“The first offer I got when my contract expired was from Dynamos… the people that are close to me are all Dynamos fans and it seemed to be the easy decision to make.
“I, however, received a phone call from Lloyd Chitembwe asking me to join CAPS United, and the situation became a bit complicated,” he said.
Considering his close relations with club owners Farai Jere and Nhamo Tutisani, CAPS eventually became his final destination.
Chafa could even mark his return this afternoon when CAPS United resume their Premiership title campaign with a date against Black Rhinos at Sakubva Stadium.
For the past five years, he has had the luxury of playing for FC Platinum and Ngezi Platinum, where issues of player welfare and professionalism are second to none.
He, however, insists that money was never an issue when he decided to rekindle his relationship with the Harare-based side.
“My relationship with Chitembwe is like a father and son, so when he called me asking if I could join CAPS United, it was like a father asking his son to come play for his team.
“ … Whether there is money or not, I will be giving it my all. Chitembwe is one of the best coaches in Zimbabwe, so it’s an honour playing for him.”
Chafa is also aware that Rhinos have improved a lot under Hebert Maruwa.
“Black Rhinos are no longer pushovers. They are a team that has been consistent for the past seasons, so it’s going to be a fair game. I am confident that we will come up winners,” he said.
Similarly, it is not lost on Black Rhinos gaffer Maruwa that Makepekepe are the team’s bogey side.
“CAPS United are our bogey side and you cannot read much into what is happening in their camp. It’s not going to be an easy game.
“Our rhythm in the league was affected by the break, which was made worse by the departure of some of our key players.
“Going into this game, we will have to try new combinations, but that won’t be an excuse for a defeat.”
Another potentially exciting Premier League fixture is on the cards at Luveve Stadium, where Bulawayo Chiefs take on defending champions FC Platinum.
Interestingly, the bulk of Bulawayo Chiefs new signings, including Kelvin Madzongwe, have had stints at the champions.
“Obviously it will be an emotional game. FC Platinum have been like family to me. They have brought so much to my career. All the championships, going to the AFCON (Africa Cup of Nations) … it’s all because of FC Platinum, so it will definitely be one of those emotional games,” said Madzongwe.
Chiefs coach Nilton Terroso believes facing the champions, who have lost only a single game in domestic competitions in the past year, will help his team gauge their strength.
“We are confident, but we don’t confuse confidence with arrogance.
“We respect FC Platinum, of course; they are led by a well-respected coach (Norman Mapeza), they are a team that has won the last three league titles, and two years before that, they finished in top three and won the Chibuku Super Cup last year,” said Terroso.
“In the nine games they have played in the Chibuku Super Cup, they drew one and lost one, and won the two league games of the season.
“In one year, they have lost one and we can’t hide from that; we can’t shy away from that.
“If there is any reason to motivate us, it is this game as it will show us where we are and how best we can improve going into the season.”
On his part, Mapeza has noted efforts that Chiefs have made to reinforce their squad.
“Bulawayo Chiefs have become one of the strongest teams in the Premier League, considering how they conducted their business during the transfer break. It is not going to be easy for us when we face them on Sunday,” he said.
