Online Reporter
Sports Reporter
CAPS United officials promised they will deliver a championship-winning coach to replace Lloyd Chitembwe, who stepped aside on Monday and, barring some last-minute changes, the Green Machine will unveil their man on Thursday.
Social media has been ablaze with a number of names, including Norman Mapeza and Takesure Chiragwi, being mentioned as possible replacements for Chitembwe.
Given that CAPS United president Farai Jere wanted someone who knew the Green Machine environment, and would not require a lot of time to learn the culture at the club, it’s easy to understand why these two names have emerged.
Especially when one takes into account that Jere wanted a man who has already proved himself as a championship winner.
Both Mapeza and Chiragwi are former CAPS United men with the former being part of Charles Mhlauri’s backroom staff when the Green Machine won the league championship in 2004.
The latter played for Makepekepe as a leftback before finding success as a coach and guiding Ngezi Platinum Stars to their maiden league championship.
With Mapeza still committed to his FC Platinum project, all eyes have shifted to Chiragwi but he still has a contract with Ngezi Platinum Stars.
CAPS United officials were not giving away much yesterday.
“The club president said he will announce the new head coach later this week and you guys should just wait for that announcement,” said a source.
“These are delicate matters and you should not just throw names of individuals around because some of them have commitments elsewhere and you should respect that.
“We should not create a situation which suggests that these guys are not professionals by throwin their names around because they are very professional and they deserve respect.”
Jere announced yesterday that Chitembwe has been moved to the post of technical director.
Chitembwe’s assistants − Farai Tawachera and Tonderai Marime − have been relieved of their duties. The same also applies to all the other members of the backroom staff.
Ian Bakala, who arrived two weeks ago, will be Makepekepe’s assistant coach.
Alois Bunjira, who is working as the team’s marketing director, has been spared the axe.
Chitembwe, who has lost six of Makepekepe’s first 10 games, declined to comment at yesterday’s press conference.
“Our fans are very dear to us. I felt for one fan who suffered a dog bite recently. This is not our worst situation, we once survived relegation in the last game of the season, but we’ve made this decision because it’s what they’re demanding,” said Jere.
“They can’t be blamed for demanding better results, we can’t expect them to remain quiet when things aren’t going according to plan.
“We value their support because they’re the owners of this team, it belongs to them, and they won’t stop supporting the team even if it changes ownership.”
He added:
“We’re going to use a simple system. We want a system that will accommodate all former CAPS United players who won the championship with the team and understand the demands,” he said.
“Even the coach who’s coming in as head coach is a former player who knows what’s needed at the club. We just want someone who has won the league as a player and as a coach, and we’re good to go.”
