admin
Tadious Manyepo
Sports Reporter
CAPS United coach Lloyd Chitembwe is a worried man, in no small part.
His team is playing an entertaining brand of football in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League but the results haven’t been corresponding.
Lack of consistency is eating him up although the Green Machine are just six points behind Premiership leaders, Highlanders.
But things could ease up for the veteran tactician, especially with his team showing some conviction with the addition of young blood in the starting line-up.
Chitembwe unleashed a solid line-up that had all the sting in their 3-0 decapitation of Hwange at Rufaro on Sunday.
Besides starting impressive prodigy Junior Bunjira, Chitembwe threw in former Cranborne Bullets midfielder Kingsley Mureremba, into the fray.
And he was, by far, the best player on show, with his precise passing, sure tackles and intelligent off-the-ball running catching the eye.
Mureremba’s presence also manifested beautifully on his former Cranborne Bullets teammate Eric Manokore, who dished out arguably his best performance in a CAPS United shirt.
The two were major components of the relegated army side last season, making it tough for opponents to find a way through the midfield.
However, Manokore would cross to Makepekepe and Mureremba’s industry wasn’t just enough to save Cranborne Bullets from sliding into Division One.
But that combination has resurfaced at CAPS United with the two players showing on Sunday just how important they could be in the Harare giants’ search for silverware this season.
With Manokore playing as a right full-back and Mureremba deployed deep in midfield, the former would frequently add the numbers in the middle of the park and each time he did so, the latter would drift forward and Makepekepe always looked dangerous in the attacking third.
Chitembwe was impressed with how Mureremba arrived and towered at the party.
“I am really happy with how he (Mureremba) played. He is proving that he is an important part of the team and he did put up a good show,” said Chitembwe.
“It was a good game overall but I am not very happy with how we are blowing hot and cold. We need to be consistent.”
And for Manokore, who knows how Mureremba plays, having his former teammate and friend at Makepekepe is something to cheer about.
“It feels good to play with Kingsley (Mureremba) again here at CAPS United.
“His energy and mobility always make it easy for teammates as he creates good passing options,” said Manokore.
“For me, the understanding we have with Mureremba comes a long way. He is a good young lad who is level-headed and hopefully, he reaches his full potential.”
CAPS United have failed to string two wins in a row in 10 games.
But they will be hopeful of breaking that cycle when they play Yadah at Rufaro on Saturday.
Former Warriors star Khama Billiat, who made his Premiership debut with CAPS United, will not be available to face his old club after he was red-carded in Yadah’s 1-0 defeat to Herentals last Saturday.
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter