Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo-Zimpapers Sports Hub
CAPS United president Farai Jere has seen a lot including extraordinary money-spinning pre-seasons for the past 21 years he has been in football administration.
But he rates the current period as the best he has witnessed and he has predicted an exciting 2026 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League term on the back of an intensive transfer period in which teams are super active not just on the market but the way they are preparing.
The Green Machine themselves have been pro-active after flexing their muscles, bringing in some of the best players in the country.
CAPS United began preparing for the 2026 season towards the tail end of last year.
So alert were Makepekepe that they completed eight of their signings by the end of October when their team was involved in an intense battle against relegation. They also brought on board club son Takesure Chiragwi who is now the head coach and is deputised by ex-teammates Ian Bakala and Joseph Kamwendo.
One of the most consistent strikers in the local league Obriel Chirinda, Richard Hachiro, Davison Marowa and goalkeeper Wallace Magalane are some of the high-profile players that Jere brought to the team.
Jere has acknowledged all the other 17 top-flight teams have done a tremendous job in preparation. The CAPS United boss foresees an extraordinary term unfolding on March 6.
“I think the competition is going to be up there; it’s going to be a very exciting season because a lot of clubs are doing their business well in the transfer market.
“You can see that the vibe has already shifted and sweeping across discussions well before the season gets underway. I am pretty sure the competition will be up there, the excitement will be unprecedented.”
There once existed flamboyant teams with a lot of resources in the top-tier like Monomotapa, AmaZulu, Gunners, Shooting Stars, Motor Action and Lengthens before 2010.
Earlier in the 1990s there were also clubs like Blackpool, Black Aces, Darryn T and others in the 1990s but nothing can rival the current tide.
Individually-owners clubs who include reigning champions Scottland, Hardrock, Agama, Hunters Simba Bhora, Herentals and CAPS United and company-controlled teams including MWOS, Manica Diamonds, FC Platinum, Ngezi Platinum, Triangle, ZPC Kariba and others all have the financial muscle to finance their competitiveness.
And Jere knows it will not be an easy season though he remains confident his team will finally creep back to reclaim its giant status.
The Green Machine will go for a pre-season camp in Malawi where they will play in a four-team tournament including against the Malawi champions Mighty Mukuru Wanderers.
Simba Bhora will be heading to Botswana while FC Platinum and Scottland have since gone to South Africa and Zambia respectively.
Ngezi Platinum are expected to also follow suit as the clubs ready for the season.
“You can actually see the excitement is already there, people cannot wait but we just have to wait for the right time after four weeks, or six weeks of preparations of off season which is scientific which has to be done then the league starts and our people start enjoying the football this is going to be one of the best decisions even before we start from the way everyone is doing business,’’ added Jere.
“Look at Dynamos, Highlanders, everyone . . . you cannot underrate or underestimate anyone.
“But as CAPS United, we once walked this road of winning the championship and you know what is required and I think we’ve done justice.
“We managed to secure everyone except one right back, so we are very happy and this is going to be a different year we are going to be challenging for the championship.
“We will be in Malawi then also play Mozambique champions on our way back.”
Jere revealed that Warriors defender Isheanesu Mauchi will be joining Makepekepe if his envisaged deal to pen a deal with an undisclosed South African top-flight side fails to materialise.
