Online Reporter
Veronica Gwaze
Zimpapers Sports Hub
WHEN Hastings Chapusha dons the Dynamos blue outfit to face his former club FC Platinum for the first time tomorrow at Rufaro he will be carrying more than just match pressure.
After all, the previous Premier Soccer League season had been upsetting for the towering and reserved defender.
The difficult spell left him trotting between clubs in search of stability and a fresh start.
Unexpected to many, the soul-searching journey landed him at Dynamos at the start of the year.
All Chapusha needed was an environment that could help him regain his form, confidence, and reclaim a career that had drifted.
“It was not easy to gather the courage and make up my mind to be here,” he said.
“While it has always been my childhood dream to one day play for Dynamos, what happened to me in the past months left me unsure of how to navigate.”
Prior to the turbulent year, Chapusha had joined CAPS United in 2023.
Eventually he rose to become vice captain to Eric Manokore before his journey at Makepekepe ended abruptly resulting in his release by the cub during the 2025 mid-season window.
Together with Manokore the duo faced a painful exit from the Green Machine.
This was after the skipper missed a penalty in their away game to MWOS in Norton while Chapusha was persecuted for an own goal in a CAPS United fixture against GreenFuel.
CAPS United were at that time struggling with their game and Chapusha together with Manokore were among the “Fall guys’’.
The duo went on to join FC Platinum in July 2025 on a two-year deal before Chapusha was once again released earlier this year.
In search of a new home, the defender landed at Dynamos, a side that was still on the market searching for talent.
His arrival at the Harare giants was met with mixed feelings as some argued that Chapusha’s style does not suit the demands of such a big club as Dynamos.
However, after turning out twice in the blue and white of DeMbare against MWOS and Simba Bhora in which he helped them to identical 1-0 wins, Chapusha appears to have settled well.
His performances also seem to have silenced his doubters.
They now seem convinced that his partnership with Collin Mujuru will bring stability to the Dynamos defence.
“I am happy with how my journey at Dynamos started, you know coming to such a club I had my fears, but I am glad that I am managing to conquer them,” he said.
Chapusha admits that his exit at the Green Machine emotionally affected him, and the subsequent landing at the platinum miners was not what he expected.
While the environment was not bad for him, he feels that he could have eventually emotionally recover had he stayed longer at FC Platinum.
“Had it not been for my family, I do not know where I would be right now; life dealt me a heavy blow and family helped me pick up the pieces.
“The welcome and love I received at Dynamos, I believe has helped me so much and it made me move on from the past setbacks,” he said.
“I am not yet there but I feel much better now compared to when I came; my family and mates have played a key role.”
As he faces FC Platinum, Chapusha will be hoping to inspire Dynamos to a third straight win and without conceding.
“Playing at Rufaro always has a different vibe and all you want is to feel the fans love. Fans want results so we just have to come out and give them a reason to smile.
“I was part of the miners for months last year, I know it will not be an easy game but we need to be confident, maintain our playing structure so that we are able to keep them at bay.”
