Call it Greenpeace . . . Mangwiro makes U-turn, returns to CAPS Utd

Grace Chingoma Senior Sports Reporter
A BREEZE of sanity blew into CAPS United’s troubled house yesterday after coach Taurai Mangwiro had a change of heart, following a meeting with club president Twine Phiri, and withdrew his resignation letter that had thrown the Green Machine into turmoil.Mangwiro announced on Sunday that he had quit the country’s third biggest football franchise, the culmination of weeks of turmoil and tension, between the coach and some members of the club’s administrative machine.

The former Monomotapa and Masvingo United coach claimed that there were some people within CAPS United’s management structures who wanted him out of the system and were not supportive of the project he was building.

Mangwiro threw in the towel shortly after CAPS United crashed to a 1-3 defeat in a league match at the hands of Shabanie Mine, which blew holes in their quest to win their first league championship in eight years, at Maglas on Sunday.

The Green Machine’s preparations for the Shabanie Mine tie had been rocked by the frosty relationship between the coach and the management team and, on their way to Zvishavane on Saturday, a member of the team’s security staff was ordered off the team bus by the players and their coaches because they claimed he was a spy for the leadership.

Sources said the rift was between Mangwiro and club chief executive, Joe Makuvire, and this came to the fore when the coach tore into the club’s executive, which is headed by Makuvire, in a candid newspaper interview last week.

Mangwiro said while he had a lot of respect for Phiri, he didn’t believe in the quality of the men he had thrown into the frontline to run the Green Machine and their shortcomings had failed a CAPS United team with the capacity to have won a League and Cup double this season if the players had remained focused on their job.

With players firmly in support of their gaffer Mangwiro, Phiri had to find a quick solution to the challenges affecting his team, especially in the week when his players should be focused on what is a tough Mbada Diamonds Cup quarter-final tie against Chicken Inn in Gweru this weekend.

CAPS United badly need a good run in the country’s premier knockout tournament, not only for the rich pickings that it provides which will help a club whose coffers have been crying out loudly for a huge cash injection, but also for the avenue that it presents for a return to the Caf Confederations Cup next year.

Last year, CAPS United reached the semi-finals of the Mbada Diamonds Cup where the Green Machine were taught a good lesson by their bitter rivals Dynamos on the neutral fields of Barbourfields in a 0-3 hammering that ended their season without a whimper.
If they fail to get as far as the semi-finals, it would be considered a failed campaign in this tournament when compared to their run last year.

Mangwiro arrived at the club’s training ground, Danny Bismarck, yesterday with about 10 minutes left in the session that was being conducted by the assistant that he handpicked, Saul Chaminuka.

The coach didn’t conduct the training session but could be seen talking with Phiri and makuvire and the body language appeared to suggest that the two parties had found common ground after a very difficult weekend for them.
After the session was over, Mangwiro addressed his players, and then joined the club’s leadership, the players and technical staff in a group prayer.

One of the players told The Herald that while Mangwiro was short on confidence, when he addressed them, and was at times shaky, the key thing was that he told them that he was back in charge and would be back in training this morning to prepare for the big game in Gweru on Saturday.

Phiri told a group of journalists that Mangwiro never left the Green Machine and what he might have said after the match in Zvishavane was something that was delivered in the heat of the moment.

The CAPS United leader, who is also the PSL boss, said what was important was that they emerge out of this crisis stronger.
The Green Machine still have a good chance of fighting for the league championship.

“Tau had not resigned. I never saw the resignation letter. When I spoke to him he said he was  coming back to work,” said Phiri.
“Things here are okay, but we just have some people blowing things out of proportion.

“I know football is an emotional game, especially for someone who had lost 3-1. They were just emotions of losing a game. I think it was too harsh for someone used to winning games.

“But I am happy he is back to work with the team. I can foresee CAPS United being one of the top teams. I cannot say which position but we are still pushing for the championship title.”
Phiri said they were not the only football club that was facing challenges.

“At any institution, you get such things. You fight but should remain united and these fights should actually make you stronger,” said the Green Machine boss.

“I don’t doubt his commitment. He is a sober person, I have worked with him for close to a year now.
“I don’t see fights at CAPS United. I am the one who controls this club and I am surprised to see such stories saying the house is on fire. As far as I am concerned things are stable. We are in the second round of a big tournament my boys are committed the coaches are and everyone is.

“I spent the day here monitoring and the way I see it things are okay. I know some people will try to push agendas but I will not let anyone do that to the club.”

Last night, Mangwiro refused to comment on his dramatic U-turn, save to confirm that he was back at the club, and referred all the questions to Makuvire.

While people were making peace at the Green Machine, the Game Cocks entered their second day of training with none of the drama that was in Harare.

Chicken Inn assistant coach Mkhupali “Mr Cooper” Masuku said they were focused on progressing to the semi-finals.
“Regardless of the problems they are said to be facing, the quality in their team won’t change. It is going to be a difficult game,” said Masuku, who was part of Mangwiro’s backroom staff at the Green Machine last year.

“As they are going through problems, they would also want the money and to progress in the tournament and make more money.
“Sometimes knowing a team doesn’t really work for you. Whoever is there has a quality team, so we are looking forward to an exciting game.

“But we are looking forward to progressing to the next round. Last year, I was not with the club (Chicken Inn) and they lost in the first round.

“But now everyone is looking forward to go all the way.
“We have done very well progressing to the second round, the first hurdle is always a difficult one.

“We don’t have injuries and everyone wants to be part of the playing team on Saturday. The spirit is high in camp as well as the competition.”