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Bunjira yesterday with the coaches confident of turning around the team’s fortunes.
The Green Machine also roped in former Monomotapa United and Zimbabwe Under-17 national team coach Rodwell Dhlakama into their technical team.
Dhlakama is now the club’s youth development manager, tasked with reviving the dormant junior structures, but will have a seat on the first team’s bench as an assistant coach.
Takaendesa Jongwe and Bunjira were introduced to the players by club president Twine Phiri before conducting their first training session at the Nationals Sports Stadium B Arena yesterday.
The duo, together with goalkeeper’s trainer Richard Tswatswa, will take over from Moses Chunga who quit on Monday, ending a turbulent nine-month marriage coloured by the bad blood between him and a section of the supporters because of his strong Dynamos background.
While appreciating the challenge at hand, Jongwe, who was plucked from fellow Premiership side Kiglon, said he was looking forward to better days at the Green Machine.
“I am happy to join the CAPS United family and we are hoping for the best,” he said.
Jongwe’s first assignment will be against Gunners in a Castle Lager Premier League match at Lafarge on Saturday.
CAPS United are sixth on the table with 21 points from 14 games. Bunjira said the immediate task is to inspire a new spirit of self-belief in the dressing room.
CAPS lost the last league match 1-0 to bitter rivals Dynamos and were bundled out of the BancABC tournament in the next assignment after losing to Highlanders by the same margin on Sunday.
“I wouldn’t want to talk more about what has been happening before our arrival in the technical team because that is now water under the bridge,” said Bunjira.
“The most important thing is we have been tasked with great responsibilities and we are opening a new page.
“Obviously whenever there are changes people would expect to see things changing on the ground almost immediately.
“But it may take time and we will do everything to make the CAPS United family happy.
“CAPS is a big institution and the supporters want success.
“I know it because I have been through the system. It’s not an easy task but we have to do it.
“We have told the players that it’s the pride of the team that is at the stake and playing for bonuses is another issue.
“It’s not really about the money and we hope to make progress.”
CAPS United are also set to beef up the squad during the mid-season transfer period.
They have already recalled former son Ashley Rambanapasi who returned home to the club after parting ways with Gunners.
Rambanapasi and midfielder Courrage Denias trained with the team yesterday and Bunjira confirmed they were set to finalise the signing of striker Kingstone Nkhata whose contract with Free State Stars expired at the end of the season.
Defender David Sengu is also set to return and the technical team said they will be looking for another defender during the transfer period.
Bunjira said he was confident in his squad’s capacity to perform well and even fight for title.
“I have faith in the coach as much as I have in the players,” said Bunjira.
“We had a good workout on our first day to assess the material that we have got and we are impressed.
“I don’t doubt the quality of the players but we need to make one or two changes.
“I believe if we work together and pull in one direction from the executive, the players, the supporters and all the stakeholders we can get the results that we are looking for.
“The immediate task is to try and infuse a new spirit to boost the players’ morale which seemed to have gone down.
“We need to motivate the players and make them believe in themselves again especially after losing crucial games to Dynamos and Highlanders.
“A big morale booster would be to win our next game and then we take it up from there.
“The truth is that everyone wants success and the CAPS United supporters will be happy to see their team playing in the champions League.
“That’s the goal and it’s not late as yet.
“We must not see ourselves as over-ambitious but there are only about seven points separating us from the top teams at the halfway stage of the season. In football anything can happen and we are hoping for the best.”
The supporters welcomed the swift decision by the leadership to fill the void left by Chunga’s departure.
CAPS United Supporters Federation national chairman Abraham Kawadza said the coaches need their backing as they embark on their new responsibilities.
“CAPS United is an ambitious side and I think Jongwe will make a good combination with one of our sons, Bunjira. The CAPS United supporters welcome the move taken by our leadership. We can only get better if we work together and give them massive backing,” said Kawadza.
On the stormy relationship between the supporters and Chunga, Kawadza said the national executive was fully behind Bambo during his tenure from last year.
“It’s our culture at CAPS to support whoever is the coach of the day.
“The fact that he came here twice is testimony that no one disliked him for whatever reason.
“We embraced him when he came and he did his best but it’s the results that count at the end of the day.
“We wish him all the best in his future,” said Kawadza.
Fixtures
Saturday
Shooting Stars v Black Mambas (Sakubva), Gunners v Caps United (Lafarge), Masvingo United vs FC Platinum (Mucheke),
Sunday
Hwange V Zimbabwe Saints (Colliery), Shabanie Mine v Blue Ribbon (Maglas)
Monday
Kiglon v Highlanders (Rufaro), Monomotapa v Motor Action (Gwanzura),
Wednesday (July 6)
Dynamos v Chicken Inn (Rufaro).
Online Reporter