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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWEAN football sunk to a record low yesterday after Caps United players revolted hours before their league encounter against How Mine at Luveve Stadium.Once a model football club, Makepekepe players travelled 439KM from the capital but dramatically refused to fulfil the most important part of their journey, a 10KM drive to Luveve Stadium where over 1,000 fans and their opponents, How Mine were waiting.
With reports that players have even vowed not to play in the much awaited Harare derby on Monday if they are not paid, football followers could be wondering whether this is the end of an era for Caps United, also called the Green Machine, Cup Kings, or Makepekepe.
Is Caps United about to walk on the same death road as Black Aces, a once big local club that is no more?
It would indeed be a sad chapter if that happens even though it looks frighteningly a reality now. Those whose blood is green would surely hope the club survives this attempt on its existence just like it did in the mid 1980s following the arrival of a club called Black Rhinos, bankrolled by the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.
The arrival of Chauya Chipembere nearly sunk the Caps United ship as almost all of their cream players joined the army side because of its financial potency then.
However, Caps United soldiered on and would still claim some knockout tournaments with players like Abdul Karim, Carlos Marx, Tobias Sibanda, Never “Maswera Sei” Chiku, Eddie Muchongwe, Silver “Bonzo” Chigwenje, Maxwell “Cheche” Biliart and Basil Chisopo.
Formed in 1973, the team rose to prominence in the late 1970s into the early 1980s when it was home to some of the finest Zimbabwean players.
These include the feted striker Shacky “Mr Goals” Tauro, the late Stanley “Sinyo” Ndunduma, Joel “Jubilee” Shambo, Stanford “Stix” Mtizwa, Friday “Breakdown” Phiri, Clever Muzuwa, Size Torindo and Brenna Msiska.
Caps United got the nickname “Cup Kings” during that period, as it won virtually all knockout tournaments like Chibuku Trophy, Rosebowl Charity Shield and the Independence Trophy.
In addition to the fine brand of players cooked from the Makepekepe pot, the club has also been home to a fine breed of coaches like treble winning Charles Mhlauri, Rahman Gumbo, Taurai Mangwiro and Steve Kwashi.
So when such a great institution’s very existence is under threat, it’s not only those who support it who become worried, but every football person in the country.
Famed radio and television personality Steve Vickers, confessed yesterday that he had witnessed history being made in his long, decorated career.
“This is my first time to witness a walkover,” Vickers told Highlanders secretary general Emmet Ndlovu at Luveve Stadium.
Online Reporter