HARARE Premiership giants CAPS United are confident they will overcome the recent player exodus that saw the popular Harare side losing four star-players to the South Africa ABSA Premiership and challenge for honours in both the domestic league and the CAF Confederations Cup. (Pi
Soccer pundits were touting the Green Machine one of the favourites to land the league title as the team boasted an array of talented players who included experienced utility player Method Mwanjali, rising midfield magician Tafadzwa Rusike, goalscoring machine Nyasha Mushekwi and skilful wing wizard Oscar Machapa. But following the quartets impressive showing in Uniteds Confederations Cup ties against Swazilands Mbabane Highlanders and South Africas Moroka Swallows the four players were snatched by three South African glamour clubs Mamelodi Sundowns, Ajax Cape Town and Moroka Swallows, leaving CAPS United followers dumbfounded.
It remains to be seen whether United will be able to maintain their impressive start to the Confederations Cup campaign as well as be able to preserve their dominance over city rivals Dynamos that the Green Machine had built in the past two years. The job can still be done, there are other good players who did not get enough game time last year and Im sure they will be happy to be drawn into the team, said Farai Jere, one of the United directors.
Lloyd (Chitembwe) is a shrewd planner, in him we have a good coach and I know with the players that are there he will manage. There are a lot of talented players who include Blessing Mazorodze, Leonard Tsipa and former Lengthens striker Last Chibwiro who are fit to fill in those places. So we are not worried, added a confident Jere. Makepekepe followers had fallen in love with Mushekwis insatiable appetite for goals, young Rusikes skill and vision as he roasted men almost double his size, Mwanjalis steely but steadying influence and Machapas power, pace and penetration.
United supporters will always remember how former Dynamos player Sebastian Mutenheri immediately disappeared into oblivion after Machapa roasted him on the right wing during a league match in 2008. While the remaining players may be bound to feel the pressure to impress from the demanding crowd, Jere believes United supporters understand the developments in their teams camp. Some of our supporters attend the teams training sessions and know the talent we have. They understand the situation. One cannot run a club without selling players to other clubs. It will be good for our national team if our players go out there and get international exposure, said Jere.
Post published in: Zimbabwe Sports News