The Sunday Mail
Don Makanyanga
Denver Mukamba might have played just 36 minutes for the Green Machine since crossing from Dynamos at the start of the season, but his cameo appearances for Caps United in the last two matches have delighted his coach Lloyd Chitembwe.
The 25-year-old Mukamba came in for Simba Nhivi in the 72nd minute against Bulawayo Chiefs last Sunday and was again introduced in the final 18 minutes for Brian Muzondiwa during last Thursday’s 0-0 against FC Platinum at the National Sports.
And Chitembwe could continue this trend, of gradually introducing Mukamba into the fold, when Caps United clash against army side Black Rhinos in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at the National Sports Stadium this afternoon.
Chitembwe feels Mukamba is becoming the player he expects, and soon the former DeMbare star will start.
“We are still working on his fitness and at the moment he has not reached the level where he can play 90 minutes,” said Chitembwe. “It is sensible for a coach to play him in the last minutes of the game than in the first minutes when both teams are still fresh. “But overall I am impressed with the contribution that he has made for the team when he has come on as substitute. I am very happy because it’s not about his ability as a football player but if there is anything that needs to be monitored its discipline; his attitude towards the game, towards his colleagues, towards the coaches. And he has been marvellous.”
With Mukamba making notable progress, much cannot be said of Wisdom Mutasa, the other player who joined Makepekepe from DeMbare.
Mutasa lasted 38 minutes when Caps United drew 0-0 against Harare City in their first league match.
“(Mutasa) remains a key player of the team and he has the capacity but at times we do not look at individuals because the club is bigger than individuals. I am happy with the contribution he gives to the club,” said the Caps United gaffer.
Caps United have three points from their first three fixtures of this season.
Two goalless draws against Harare City and FC Platinum sandwich last Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Bulawayo Chiefs.
Chitembwe is not worried about the poor conversion rate. “We are creating chances but we are failing to convert and the most difficult part of football is scoring. And to me it is better to miss the chances that you would have created than failing to create the chances at all.
“At the end of the day you know what you need to work on and to us conversion is a work in progress. Soon we will start getting it right. “I am not worried with how we have missed the chances because to me this is something which has been happening in the last two or three years but at the end of the year our players win the Golden Boot and I do not think this year is an exception,” said Chitembwe.
Caps United face Black Rhinos, at the National Sports Stadium, and the Army side’s gaffer Herbert Maruwa is confident of bouncing back from a painful defeat at the hands of Yadah FC last Thursday.
“We are coming from a defeat hence there is need for us to organise ourselves quickly and get a positive result. Caps is a good side but I do have an equally good side,” said Maruwa.
