I needed to grow my career: Kwashi

Fungai “Tostao” Kwashi, a man who has spent almost his entirelife at Caps United from the young age of seven, played for the club and coached it as well, says the need for career growth spurred him to make a move to Chicken Inn. Kwashi says he never ditched Caps United but only thought of advancing his coaching career by joining Gamecocks.

Kwashi (44) who started playing for Makepekepe at the age of seven, revealed yesterday that with time permitting, he was going to stay put.

“I started playing for Caps United at the age of seven. It has been a great ride with Caps United, a club that helped me make my name. Thanks to club owner Twin Phiri and club’s head coach Lloyd Chitembwe. I didn’t ditch the club but thought of having a new fight. I just needed to advance my career,” said Kwashi, who now deputises Gamecocks head coach Joey Antipas.

“Antipas is a great coach. He greatly guided me and I enjoy working with him. He is a brother and mentor who has shown me how it’s done,” said Kwashi who debuted at Caps United in 1997.

He has extensive coaching experience at various schools. Kwashi is a holder of a (Zifa) Level one and two Coaching Diplomas, Fifa Elite Fitness Course, and Caf A, B, and C licences. Meanwhile, after bringing a number of new faces and welcoming back Joey Antipas to head their technical bench, Chicken Inn will open their fixtures schedule with an away game against Caps United who have a number of seasoned players in the likes of William, Manondo, player coach Rodwell Chinyengetere, Bruce Kangwa and DevonChafa. After their fixture against Makepekepe, Gamecocks will fight it out with Arenel Movers before they head to Zvishavane to do battle against FC Platinum at Mandava Stadium.

“It’s a tight early schedule and we need to treat each game like a cup final. It promises to be a season with lots of competition. Almost every club has been busy on the market as we head for this early start of the season,” said Antipas.
The former Castle Lager Premier Soccer League champions are on Friday set to establish a three-day training camp in Matopo.

“It’s a bonding camp. We brought new players that need to adjust with others. We need a family that can help us do better. With that in mind, we are going to have a fruitful three-day camp outside Bulawayo. It’s a necessary thing as we seek to have a well assembled team,”said Antipas.

He leads Kwashi and Guide Goddard as his first and second assistant coaches respectively ahead of the start of the new season.

The Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) 2024 epic campaign is set to start on a delight with traditional giants Highlanders and Dynamos fighting it out in the season’s opener at Barbourfields Stadium.

While the announcement of this season’s fixtures schedule was delayed to allow for the conclusion of the pending matter in the Eastern Region Division One where the promoted side is set to be confirmed due to a dispute.

After their fixture against Chicken Inn, Caps United will fight it out with Arenel Movers before they head to Zvishavane to do battle against FC Platinum at Mandava Stadium. – @FungaiMuderere.