Chunga faces CAPS Utd

United at Lafarge this afternoon.
This will be Chunga’s first assignment since parting ways with the Green Machine two weeks ago.

The same applies to new CAPS United coaches Maxwell Takaendesa Jongwe and his assistant Alois Bunjira who will be sitting on the Makepekepe bench for the first time this afternoon.
But Bambo has a mammoth task in his hands to redeem “Chando Kupisa” from the relegation mire after the 2009 champions turned to him for a helping hand following the anticipated departure of Darlington Dodo, who is linked to a move to South Africa.

However, Bambo, who cherishes glowing memories with the side he led to the title in 2009, is not new to the Gunners set-up although most of the players he worked with are no longer with the club.
He is returning when things are not looking good and has a tough task on his hands as Gunners are currently lying second from bottom with 12 points from 14 games.
For the last two weeks, Chunga has been helping the club and he used the recent Premiership break, caused by the hosting of the Cosafa Women’s Championship, to acquaint himself with the players and had a friendly match against Mwana Africa at the weekend, which they won 5-1.

Bambo, who endured a frosty relationship with a section of CAPS United supporters, says he does not have any hard feelings against the Green Machine and will not lose sleep by the prospect of facing his former team today.
“It’s not all about beating CAPS United. I am here to help Gunners realise their objectives and the challenge for me and everyone else at the club is not only to beat a certain team, but to take each game as it comes.

“I hope to continue from where the previous coaches left off. Of course, it is going to be hard work but we are looking forward to it. We have some good players but I cannot come to conclude anything basing on a single friendly match against a lower division side.
“The game against Mwana Africa however was a good opportunity to acquaint with the players,” said Chunga.

But Gunners lost 10 players during the mid-season transfer window including midfielder Ashley Rambanapasi and the Sengu brothers David and Ronald who crossed the floor to CAPS United.
They also lost Elvis Meleka who is reportedly in Botswana, Courage Denias, Richard Khola, Leonard Tsipa, Eddie Mashiri, More Moyo, and Prince Mbara.
But they still have the core of the team in Ishmael Lawe, Charles Mukuruva, Welling-ton Kamudyariwa, Hardlife Zvirekwi, Pardon Chinungwa and Cliff Sekete.

“I don’t know the situation regarding those players. Probably they left before I joined the club. But we still have some good players in the team and we are looking forward to beef up with more strikers. Right now we are busy identifying players and we will let you know of any additions before the window closes,” said Chunga.

Gunners are currently 15th on the log standings with 12 points but a win today would lift them two places up the ladder over Shabanie Mine and Kiglon.
CAPS are seventh with 21 points.

Assistant coach Bunjira said they were aware of the task in their hands and are hoping for a good start against Gunners in the first of the back-to-back fixtures.
The clubs are due to meet again in the return leg at Rufaro on Sunday.
But the Green Machine will miss rightback Gilbert Mapemba who is away on trials in South Africa.

They had hoped to speed up the registration of Ronald and David Sengu to beef up their defence but their papers were still not order by yesterday.
“We would have loved to use David and Ronald in this match but we encountered unexpected delays with their transfers.

“We haven’t got their clearances yet but (Tendai) Samanja and Rambanapasi have been registered and are available for selection,” said Bunjira
A win for CAPS United would take them back into the top four, above Highlanders who were held to a 0-0 draw by Kiglon at Rufaro yesterday.

Takaendesa and Bunjira have various options although midfielder David Rediyoni and Clive Kawinga are still not available due to injuries.
CAPS are still smarting from the 1-0 defeat at the hands of Highlanders, which knocked them out of the lucrative BancABC Sup8r tournament at Baghdad two weeks ago.
“The break did us a great favour because it gave us some time to work on our game since we are introducing a new style of play.

“Obviously the previous coach had his system and the players needed

“We are looking farther than this game. Every game going forward is a big challenge to us because we are working with a team that we found low in morale and in an unfamiliar mid-table position. By their standards, CAPS do not belong at number nine on the log standings because traditionally they are one of the top three teams in the Premiership.
“So the objective is to take them up there by the end of the season,” said Bunjira.

Fixtures
Today: Gunners v CAPS United (Lafarge)
Saturday: Zimbabwe Saints v Hwange FC (White City), FC Platinum v Masvingo United (Mandava), Motor Action v Monoz (Motor Action Sports Club), Blue Ribbon v Shabanie (Rufaro), Chicken Inn v Dynamos (Barbourfields), Black Mambas v Shooting Stars (Morris Depot)
Sunday: Highlanders v Kiglon (Barbourfields), CAPS United v Gunners (Rufaro)