Fresh start for CAPS United

Tadious Manyepo-Zimpapers Sports Hub

NEW CAPS United coach Ian Bakala is no stranger to Zimbabwean football having enjoyed a successful stint with the Green Machine where he won the 2004 Premiership title as a player.

A Soccer Star of the Year runner-up during that season, Bakala enjoyed a remarkable journey and never tasted defeat at Rufaro in a term in which CAPS United, then under Charles Mhlauri, lost just one game to Highlanders, a 3-4 defeat at the National Sports Stadium.

The former Zambian international midfielder has returned to the club, which he says holds a special place in his heart, when things are almost upside down and as the man with an assignment to restore the Makepekepe lost pride.

His mission starts this afternoon, at the same stadium and turf he never lost a game.

This time Bakala will not be combining forces in midfield with his predecessor Lloyd Chitembwe.

Instead, he will be the man directing operations from the touchline against Herentals this afternoon.

Chitembwe, who formed a deadly midfield combination with the man CAPS United fans fondly called “Kabanana’’, will for the first time in over three years, be in the terraces and watching from a distance as the technical director.

With Bakala in the cockpit, Makepekepe are expected to throw in the energy and jump-start a faltering season by collecting the maximum points against The Students.

Bakala has made no secret about re-uniting with CAPS United.

“I am happy to be here. CAPS United is like home to me and I am raring to go,” said Bakala.

“We hope to see positive energy and start getting the results. I am happy to be here, really.”

With Herentals walking with a spring in their step having beaten Triangle 1-0 on Monday, CAPS United will need to bring their A-Game and give hope to their ardent supporters, who are expected to throng the old Mbare venue to witness the first baby-steps being taken by one of their most beloved former players.

The Students coach Paul Benza already knows CAPS United will have some renewed energy and has challenged his men to be extra alert.

In another potentially exciting clash, some 40km away from the capital, TelOne will be out to hand surprise log leaders MWOS their first defeat of the season at Ngoni in Norton.

In the weekend before the first 2025 edition of the famous Harare derby bursts into life, focus will always be affixed to how CAPS United and Dynamos perform. Dynamos are on the road to the lowveld tomorrow where they just need to win against Triangle at Gibbo and nothing short of three points will surely send coach Lloyd Chigowe off his post.

Chigowe has to win the game tomorrow after presiding over one of Dynamos’ worst starts to the season and failure to do so means he will be booted out before the Harare Derby against CAPS United next Sunday.

The Dynamos management, who earlier this week roped in Takesure Chinyama to help sharpen their strikers, have made it clear to Chigowe that tomorrow’s game against another former DeMbare coach Genesis Mangombe, is a must win assignment.

Rufaro will also be the site of another explosive game tomorrow, the battle of the moneybags between champions Simba Bhora and Scottland.

Newcomers Scottland signed most of the profiled players in the league including five players who were with Simba Bhora when they won the league last year together with coach Tonderai Ndiraya.

Simba Bhora defender Webster Tafa feels the match will be an interesting battle as he will face a whole lot of his former teammates from last year.

“I believe this will be the toughest game but the most interesting one this season.

“We know we will be facing some of our teammates from last season but we have a lot of good players who have come to replace them.

“It will be a good outing and fans should come in their numbers to witness the spectacle. I am confident that we will win,’’ said Tafa.

Fixtures:

Today: MWOS v TelOne (Ngoni); GreenFuel v Manica Diamonds (GreenFuel Arena), CAPS United v Herentals (Rufaro);  Ngezi Platinum Stars v ZPC Kariba (Baobab); Bikita Minerals v Yadah Stars (Gibbo)

Tomorrow: Kwekwe United v Chicken Inn (Bata); Scottland v Simba Bhora (Rufaro), Triangle v Dynamos (Gibbo), Highlanders v FC Platinum (Barbourfields)