Bakala returns to his kingdom

Tadious Manyepo-Zimpapers Sports Hub

CAPS assistant coach Ian Bakala will walk back into the National Sports Stadium on Sunday carrying memories of one of the greatest seasons in the club’s history and the pressure of keeping the Green Machine at the top of the table.

For Bakala, this is bigger than just another league match.

The last time he truly owned the giant stadium in green and white colours was in 2004 when CAPS United stormed to the league title with a record-breaking 79 points, losing just once in 30 games. It was also the season the former Zambian midfielder announced himself as one of the league’s finest players and finished runner-up for the Soccer Star of the Year award.

Now, more than two decades later, Bakala returns to the same turf in charge of CAPS United against ambitious Scottland in the match set to officially mark the reopening of the National Sports Stadium after nearly three years in the shadows.

And the memories are flooding back.

“Well, it’s something that’s motivating even the players who are going to play this game,” said Bakala.

“There are a lot of memories in that stadium and I think the team is always making history in that stadium. It’s the first game there after some years and I think the players are motivated.

“It’s been long and we hope they are going to bring what they are doing at training into the game.

“It’s a challenge for them because everyone wants to see them play according to what the club carries and they are going to deliver. I have got no doubts looking at the performance though. We just have to focus on the game.”

With Takesure Chiragwi away in England with the Warriors, Bakala will again lead the technical bench after also taking charge in the goalless draw against FC Platinum on Monday.

That match exposed the one weakness threatening to slow CAPS United’s title charge, their finishing.

Makepekepe created enough chances to bury FC Platinum, but once again failed to turn dominance into goals, a problem Bakala admitted has consumed much of their week in training.

“We are practicing. We are doing everything but scoring is proving difficult,” he said.

“I think we have been scoring one or two goals every game. In this game we have to score more than two goals.

“The players are pushing. Looking at the last two games, we have been creating chances, but failing to score. I think the players are focused now, they know what is at stake.”

And there is plenty at stake.

CAPS United sit at the top of the table with 28 points from 14 matches, just one ahead of Hardrock and three clear of Scottland, who can shake up the title race completely with a victory on Sunday.

But for CAPS supporters, Sunday will carry something deeper than points and standings.

After years of closure, delays and frustration, the old giant finally breathes again and one of the men who once made history there gets the first chance to lead Makepekepe back home.