CAPS STILL TO NAME COACH

Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
Caps United will from next week embark on a massive player recruitment exercise across the country.
The club says the recruitment exercise is for their elite developmental side.Makepekepe, yet to appoint their technical team following the departure of head coach Taurai Mangwiro and his assistants, are facing an unprecedented player exodus after a forgettable 2014 season.

Caps had funding challenges in 2014. The club, however, finished an impressive third on the table despite the financial horrors.

They have already lost Dominic Chungwa and Kevin Bulaji to bitter rivals Dynamos while defender Hardlife Zvirekwi and goalkeeper Tafadzwa Dube could make moves across Shangani River to gold miners How Mine.

“We are not taking players with Premier League experience, we want players who are below the age of 23 and have no Premiership experience, neither should they be contracted to any club,” said Caps United’s chief executive officer Joe Makuvire.

He said junior development coach Ray Mudembe and some of their scouts across the country will conduct the recruitment exercise.

“A partner has been found to sponsor the new academy,” said Makuvire.

The Makepekepe chief executive officer said the exercise will start in Mutare on January 5, move to Kadoma, Kwekwe and Gweru on the next three days before coming to the City of Kings on January 9.

“The club is still deciding on whether to go to Hwange or the border town of Beitbridge for our last day on January 10. After the exercise, the selected players will go into a full time one month camp in Harare,” said Makuvire.

Meanwhile, Caps United failed to unveil their coaches yesterday as promised by the chief executive officer Makuvire earlier in the week.

“Yes, I did promise but our club president is out on holiday and once he comes back we should be able to let you know. The coaches have been identified and notified though,” claimed Makuvire.

Former coach, Jostein Mathuthu, who was with relegated Black Rhinos last season, is tipped to replace Mangwiro with Alois Bunjira set to assist him.

Makepekepe, owned by the Premiership president Twine Phiri, remains the only club without a technical bench ahead of the start of the pre-season preparations next week.